Written by: Muhammad Hanif Malik

Historical viewpoint

Unanimous faith of every Muslim on One Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) as last prophet, Holy Quran and Sunnah/Hadith of Prophet became a binding force bringing together people of different region as one Ummah. However, anti Islamic force couldn’t swallow this growing religion and unity among them considering it as major threat towards their ideologies and religions.

Muslim history is replete with glory and down fall, having difference as a healthy and creative activity, however there was no question on differences on religious matters as are prevailing today.

Instead of becoming enemies of each other they were respectful and courteous with each other but very stern for adversaries. During the period of Banu uma-i-yah and Banu Abbas, there had been many attempts to disintegrate and disunite Muslims. Many sects grew and died. For example, Khawarij and Rawafidh were born during that time. Excellent and very sincere work of TRUE scholars of Islam the Ummah rejected the beliefs of Khawarij, Rawafidh and their sub-sects and Muslims remained united.

In 1022, Al-Hakim Bin-Amr Allah with, the support of non Muslims created new Mazhab(religion) called Daruzism. During early 1900 in Iran when Bahá’u’lláh claimed that the God has manifested in him and founded the religion of Bahaism. Both of the above breaks from the Muslim community were not considered as major disunity among Muslims because both the followers of Druzism and Bahaism did not claim themselves as Muslims any more.

One of the most recent attempts by the anti Islam forces to disunite Muslims was the establishment of another religion within the Muslim community called Ahmedism or Qadyanism. In the mean time tussle started between Shia and Sunni also tHoos creating animosity between them.

Decline of unity

The intellectual difference of opinion always remained among the scholars of Islam but that should not be considered as a division. For the last 13 centuries Muslims have dominated entire world in every field ranging from Human rights, tolerance, equality, justice, military tactics/Strategy, Science/technology, Laws for state, health, and education. Khilafat-e-Uthmania (Ottoman Empire) was a thorn in the eyes of anti Islam forces.

They wanted to destroy this Islamic Empire at any cost. They were trying for the last 13 centuries to destroy it but did not succeed. These forces saw the shift in focus of Muslim scholars and took full advantage of it. They planted a very dangerous seed of nationalism among Muslims.

Muslims started fighting against their own Muslim brothers because either they were not from the same region or they were speaking a different language. When the Muslim superpower, Ottoman empire (Caliphate-of-Uthmania) was fighting against the European colonial powers, the English, the Dutch, the French, the Italians, etc, at the same time they had to defend themselves from their own Muslim brothers because Ottoman forces were TURKS and were not local.

To create HATE for TURKS the local so called scholars of Islam used religion in order to get support from all local Muslims. The tactics they used to get support from local Muslims in order to destroy Caliphate was simple. Keep Muslims busy in fighting on minor issues.

Make small issues as big issues and fight against those Muslims who do not accept the ideology of these local nationalist scholars. Since these nationalist scholars of Islam were fighting against Muslim Turkish Ottoman Empire the Western Christian governments loved them and supported them in their struggle. Now, these Muslims were very friendly with Kuffaar and very hard on other Muslims.

After a long series of events during 1800 and early 1900 most of the Muslims countries became colonies of European governments. These so-called nationalist scholars received big rewards from their Lords in the West and they were successful in destroying the unity of Muslim Ummah while still claiming the title of “Islamic Scholars”.

Present Era Challenges

Probably, there are no other people in the world today who have been as divided as Muslims. They are divided along religious, political, ethnic, cultural, racial, linguistic, and sectarian lines. Muslims all over world are facing brutality, hatred and image of Islam is being portrayed as non tolerant and highly uncivilized. Whereas, tolerance, basic rights of man kinds, justice and equality was outline by our Holy Prophet. These divisions extend further into subdivisions.

Status, wealth, fame, and fortune have also created social differences among Muslims. Muslims are divided at the root into Sunnis and Shias. Sunnis are further divided into Hanafi, Maliki, Shaafai, and Hambali. Shias too are divided into Kesania, Zaidia, Imamia or Ithna ‘Ashari, Ismalia, etc. Sunnis are also divided into Ahle-hadith and Ahle-fiqha. In the Indian subcontinent (at least) Ahle-fiqha are further divided into Deobandis and Barelwis. Similar differences exist in other places as well.

Are all these divisions and differences schools of thought as many Muslims claim? Whether or not we admit it, these differences and divisions do create physical, emotional, and psychological barriers amongst us. Muslims have left basic teachings of Islam and fall prey to the nefarious designs of enemies of Islam. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) Says: Na Main sunni na main Shia mera duhan to dil sariya Hoo (Neither I am Shia nor Sunni and I am fed up from both of them)

Teachings of Hadhrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul)

Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) has written 140 books, which are logically developed having its base on versus of Holy Quran and Hadith. These books are complete code in its essence and do not focus on only one subject matter as these are almost translation and description of Holy Quran.

During research work on these Great Books we find all subjects have been covered consciously. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) has covered unity of Ummah in his poetry vis-à-vis his other descriptive writings. He gave lesson of love for entire mankind, what to talk of Muslims or only one sect of Muslim only.

Muslims of different sects and people of different religions including Hindus and Sikhs got benefited from His teachings (FAIZ). So many non Muslims embraced Islam due to truthfulness and reality of his message and his preaching are far away from Hippocratic approaches or any greed (which is presently evident in so many so called Scholars of present era). He mostly writes “Allah Buss Ma Siwa Allah Hawas” (Allah is enough and rest everything is greed). Allah says in Holy Quran, The one who relied on Allah, Allah is enough for him (Verse 3 Tallaq, Chapter 28).

Unity between Tongue and Heart (Iqrarum Bill-i-san wa Tasdeequm Bil Qalb)

Present day world is full of hypocrisy (munafqat). This is major disease and impediment for unity of Ummah. If our heart and tongue have unity then we can create unity in a society, in a country and resultantly in the whole Ummah. He has elaborated in detail the procedures which can help in attaining unity between Tongue and Heart. It is very difficult to cover these details in this small article, interested readers can study his famous books (especially Ain-U-Faqr & Shams-ul- Arifeen).

Dr Allama Iqbal Says: Khirad ney keh bhee deya La-Illa to keya hasil, Dil-o-Nigah Musalman Naheen to Kuch bhee nahin( If our tongue narrates 1st Kalama then nothing is achieved, because until and unless our heart and soul is not converted into Islam, we have attained nothing) Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) Says: Zabani Kalma har koee parhda, dil da parh da koee Hoo, (Every Muslim read kalama with tongue but rare people read kalama with their hearts)

Follow Straight Path and no criticism on other (Sirat-i-Mustaqeem)

While going through the books written by Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul), readers will note that he has never talked about any one sect. He has guided all entire mankind towards right path (Sirat-i-Mustaqeem) as enunciated in Holy Quran ” and hold fast all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His grace ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it.

THoos doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided”. (Verse 013, Al-i-Imran). “Be not among the Mushrikun i.e., those who create differences in Deen (Isalm) and become sects. Each (sectarian) party quite content with itself (that it is following the correct path).” (30:32) “And those who create division in Deen (Islam) and become divided into sects, O Prophet (PBUH)! You have no part in them in the least.” (6:159)

Muhammad (PBUH) as Binding force for unity of Ummah

His teachings clearly elaborate affection and love for prophet and if we critically analyze, it is evident that anti Islamic forces have been trying to diminish love of Muhammad (PBUH) in the heart of Muslims, by creating clear division among them. He has quoted so many versus of Holy Quran, Obey Allah, his prophet and the one Who is designated to command amongst you (Verse 59 Al Nissa-Chapter 5), O Believer don’t shout in front of Prophet and avoid talking with him as you normally talk with each other, otherwise your worships will go wasted and you will not be aware of it (Verse 2, Al Hoojrat, Chapter 26), The one who obey Prophet, without any doubt he obeys Allah (Verse 80, Al Nissa, Chapter 5). Therefore to take out love of Muhammad (PBUH) from the heart and lives of Muslims, enemies of Islam fuelled controversy among Muslims about Great Personality of our Prophet, thereby creating disunity.

So we can conclude simply that we are putting a halt to the creative work of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions and instead focusing on non essential issues. Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) Says,

Tasbeeh Phiree tay Dil na Phereya ke karna Tasbeeh Phar kay Hoo
Ilm parheay tay adab na sikheay key karna Ilm noon parh kay Hoo

(If continuous counting is not changing our heart, then counting is meaningless, If we get knowledge but are not respectful & Hoomble then there is no need to acquire knowledge)

Purpose of creation of Human Being

If we are aware of purpose of creation of Human (Insan) then we can save ourselves from sins of this world i.e injustice, greed (Hawas), Jealousy, Lust for power & money, corruption, poverty, violation of Human rights and so many other sins. If all these are taken out of Muslims then they are on right path for unity of Ummah. Every Muslim country has its own vested interest based on so many illnesses which are contradictory with teaching of Islam.

Most Authentic Book of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) starts with purpose of creation of Human in the light of Holy Quran and Hadith. He has discussed in details creation of spirit(rooh), spiritual powers of Human, benefits of remembering Allah (Zikrullah), importance of Heart for love of Allah, progression of Human in the way of Allah, effects of Nafs, Satan and World (Dunya) on progress of man in attaining closeness with Allah, Practical & experiments (mushahidat) of Islam.

He has elaborated why Human is superior creature created by Allah Almighty. Few important aspects of Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul) vision are:

Achieve optimum Superiority of Human (Ashraf-ul-Makhlooq) through internal purity (treatment of diseases which are detrimental for Rooh).
Allah is not far away; rather he is the closest to you than anything else.
If you recognize yourself then you will be able to recognize Allah.
Attain optimum belief through rational verification (Haq-ul-Yaqeen with spiritual mentor)

Respect for Human irrespective of cast, creed and Religion (He was merciful to even non-Muslims what to talk of only one sect of Muslims). Muslims are required to be merciful towards each other (The Quran (48:29)) and be like the body where if any part Hearts the whole body should feel the pain (Hadith).

Inculcate faith that prosperity and money (Rizq) from Allah. However, he separately elaborated Rizq for Rooh(Zikrullah) and Human Body(fixed by Allah Almighty)
Spread love in this world(hospitality and KHulq-i-Muhammadi)

Instead of criticizing someone follies/mistake, making him disgruntle and damaging his personality, guide him to right path through spiritual power (Talqeen with Nigah) as Dr Allama Iqbal Said, Nigah-i-Mard-i-Momin say badal jatee hain Taqdeerain ( fate is changed with direction of Tru Muslim).

Every day that passes brings more death and destruction to Muslims that to at a much wider scale. Many Muslim groups are also engaged in fighting against each other in many parts of the Muslim world. In some countries where Muslims are in minority, their condition is even worse. One wonders: is it ever going to end? With all these divisions and differences, can we progress in the world? Iqbal does not think so:

“Firqa bandi hay kaheen aur kaheen zatein hain
kya zamane mein panapne ki yahee batein hain”

This is because we are not following teachings of our great Scholars like Hadrat Sultan Bahoo (Allah Bless His Soul). His books are like a glaring light in darkness of present day world, which can guide to Muslim Ummah in attaining its lost glory of the past.

“Na men Shiya na men sunni mera dohaan tu dil Sarya Hoo
Muk gai sab khushki pendey jad dil darya Wehdat wich waria Hoo”