Faith and Fragmentation

This brief account presents a small but telling picture of the condition of Muslims in the present age. Everywhere, Muslims are caught up in false slogans, and on the basis of self-made issues, they have divided the one religion of God into many sects. If a man tears his clothes into 72 pieces, people will call him mad. But those who have divided the religion of God into 72 fragments are more than mad—they are guilty. Such people will not receive a reward for their religiosity; rather, there is a grave concern that they will be held to account in the Hereafter for distorting the faith. The condition of Muslims in the present age is an exact illustration of the verse in the Quran about the People of the Book: They divided themselves into factions, each rejoicing in what they had (23:53). (Al-Risala, May 1984)