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:

As salam mu allai kum,

The Qur'an tells us to be in a group (istamaeeyat). So when we make groups can we give a name to it.

Some people argue we cannot keep any names as it is diving the Muslim ummah. And they also say that at the time of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) his group did not have any name.

Please reply as soon as possible. 

Brother in Islam.

(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:

Forming groups in Islam

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.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan Verse 103:

103 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. Thus doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided.

The sincere belief in the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah, in His Last and Final Messenger (saws), and in the Inevitable Advent of the Last Day should be the one cord that unites all the believers into one single ‘Brotherhood’, relegating all the other minor differences based on nationality, color, language, tribe, etc. as categorically null and void.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 30 Surah Rum verses 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"."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 23 Surah Mu’minoon verse 52-53:

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.

Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws) have categorically prohibited those who profess to be Muslims to divide their deen into sects; the underlying claim being that only those who belong to their nominated sect will attain salvation and all those who don’t will be damned! Such divisions in the Muslim Ummah are absolutely and categorically forbidden and prohibited unto the believers who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah Verse 2 (part):

….Help ye one another in righteousness and piety but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.

Having said that it is absolutely forbidden for the believers to divide their deen into sects, there is absolutely no harm if one starts or joins an association which promotes righteousness and piety and/or condemns sin and rancor. Neither is there any harm or sin if one assigns this righteous association a name through which it is recognized.

For example if some believers form a welfare association which provides charity to the poor and needy, or free medical service to ill, or education to the illiterate, etc….there is absolutely no harm in forming, joining, or assigning a name to such good associations which promote righteousness and piety for the Sake of Allah Subhanah.

The forming or joining of such righteous associations within the umbrella of Islam and for the Sake of Allah Subhanah is not only permissible, but a meritorious deed in the Sight of The Lord Most Merciful Most Gracious.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 19 (part):

85 Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause shares in the burden (of the sin): and Allah hath power over all things.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6470 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘He who called (people) to righteousness, there would be reward (assured) for him like the rewards of those who adhered to it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who called (people) to error, he shall have to carry (the burden) of its sin, like those who committed it, without their sins being diminished in any respect.’

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