The Brotherhood of Islam

Muhaddithul ‘Asr, ‘Allamah Muhammad Yusuf Al Binnory (rahimahullah) wrote an inspiring article on the topic of brotherhood in Islam. Hereunder is a summarized English translation of that article which was written in Urdu.

May Allah Ta’ala inspire us to follow these heart-rendering advices.

‘Islam has connected all Muslims together in one united relationship. In Islam, there is no distinguishing between Arab and non-Arab, Westerner and Easterner, White and Black. All Muslims are brothers.

The evil has crept in from nationalism, sectionalism, racism and geographical boundaries. Despite fancy slogans of Islamic brotherhood, the entire Muslim Ummah has been left reduced to many small factions. Today the biggest fitnah of the Muslim Ummah is patriotism, nationalism and racism. Due to this the Muslim world is the target of conflict, destruction, differences, vilifying and disunity. Our own country (Pakistan) is the target of this evil type of bigotry.

It is necessary to re-start [this effort of unifying the ummah] and to take resolutions to revive Islam, to consider the rights of our Muslim brothers and strengthen again the relationship of unity that has become weak.

These are the pearls of Nubuwwat, which cannot be matched by any other creed. How foolish would it be for us not to abide by these priceless teachings of Islam.’

(Basair wa ‘ibar, vol. 2 pg. 380—382)

www.al-miftah.com/the-brotherhood-of-islam/

Once again, it is always wise to gain understanding of something BEFORE objecting to the issue.

The matter which is being articulated by (Mufti) Rafi Usmani (HA) is that “Deobandi” is not a separate and/or distinct sect/cult/group/Jamaat in Islam.

Nowhere does he:

1. Diminish the contribution of Ulama of Deoband
2. Dishonour or disparage the knowledge, Taqwa and authenticity of Ulama of Deoband
3. Advise Muslims not to follow the Ulama of Deoband, in fact he tells people TO FOLLOW the Ulama of Deoband

All objections in this thread primarily pertain to 1,2 & 3 which Mufti Rafi Usmani (HA) never says!

It is because people are unable to grasp what is being said so they build a strawman in their mind and they argue with the strawman in their mind and in reality.

That is not his topic. His topic is sectarianism.

1. He is not degrading Ulama of Deoband
2. He is not telling people to abandon Ulama of Deoband.
3. He is not undermining the sacrifices and accomplishments of the Ulama of Deoband
   

He is merely saying that as someone born in Deoband with family from Deoband (generationally) and his father being the graduate from Darul-uloom Deoband it is DISLIKED to call oneself “Deobandi” because “Deoband” is a continuation of Alhlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaat and has no new Aqeedah/Fiqh/Ijtehaad to be coined as a new term called “Deobandi”.

His statement is factual.

He is saying the same about other sects as well but for the sake of this forum they need to concentrate on “Deobandi”.

There are 3 reasons why those opposing Mufti Rafi Usmani (HA) are reacting so aggressively:

1. Their brains cannot wrap around what he is saying. They are equating what Mufti Rafi Usmani (HA) is saying to 1, 2 & 3.
2. Because this term “Deobandi” has become so common, widespread and so easily understood by a few distinguishing markers (i.e. no prostration at graves, no weird rituals etc) they cannot comprehend that this isn’t really a well-defined and articulated definition. They are so overwhelmed that they equate this term to “Sunni” or “Hanafi” which are both well defined in their parameters
3. In laymen parlance it is easy to say “Deobandi” and people immediately conjure up what you are similar to “Tableeghi” i.e. although it is not a term but people know what a “Tableeghi” stands for.
   
   

People are mistaking laymen parlance for Academic authority. The issue is so simple once hate, poison and emotion can be said aside, like this

Person 1: What are you?

Muadh Khan: I am a Muslim?

Person 1: Everybody is a Muslim which group or sect do you follow?

Muadh Khan: I follow the Hanafi Madhab and the Ulama  of Deoband

But setting aside or casting bias, poison, hatred, and emotion is the hardest thing to do for any person. Because it shakes their core and their foundation, only few can rise above these emotions and actually objectively look at an argument.

In this case, people know that this is an identity from 1866 from a town in India but they are wearing it with a sense of pride knowing fully well that it is neither classical nor orthodox or normative.