Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I am a normal practicing muslim. For last one year a group is approaching me and they propagate that its mandatory upon muslim to be part of a particular group who are dedicated for the implementation of Islamic law and all those not doing so will die as non muslim. Is it true and what should I do? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Obligatory to remain with jamaah sects

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.257 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

The Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever becomes separate from the Muslim Jama’ah (group), even for a span, and then dies, he will die as those who died in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (as disbelievers).”

Time and time again Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws) guided and commanded the believers to remain in the believing Jama’ah (group) and never ever to break away from it.

Allah says in Chapter 30 Surah Rum aayat 31-32

"This (Islam) is the right and true faith, but most people do not know. (Be steadfast on this) turning wholly and sincerely towards Allah Alone, and fear Him, and establish the Salat, and do not be like the mushriks, who have set up their separate creeds and divided themselves into sects, each sect rejoicing in what it has."

Allahs says in Chapter 42 Surah Ash-Shura aayat 13

"He has appointed for you the same Way of Life, which He had ordained for Noah, and which (O Mohamed (saws)) We have now revealed to you, and which We had already enjoined on Abraham and Moses and Jesus, stressing this: " Establish this Way and be not divided in it"."

Some zealots mis-interpret the hadith and the guidance, invent their own sects and groups, and abuse the terms of the hadith out of context to declare that all those who do not join their nominated group are rebellious sinners and disbelievers!

Your Question: Is it true and what should I do? 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Mu’minoon verses 52-55:

And you all belong to one and the same ummah, and I(Allah) am your Lord; so fear Me Alone! Yet afterwards the people divided themselves into different sects, and each sect rejoicing in what it has. Well, leave them deeply involved in their heedlessness up to an appointed time. What? Do they think that by continuing to provide them with wealth and children, We are solicitous for their welfare? Nay, they do not understand the reality of the matter!

Respected brother, leave alone these zealots who dare to declare believers who refuse to join their nominated sects as disbelievers…..and align yourself to the Jama’ah of the Muslim Ummah at large.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan