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:

How is shia different from the sunni.

In your view what makes shunni astray and what makes shia (especially Bohra) on the right path?

(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:

Shia/Sunni Difference

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Guidance is not through following any sect, but it is the following of Allah and His Messenger (saws), worshipping Allah Alone and associating no partners with Him, and following the way and traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws). That is guidance.

Whoever, turns away from the guidance of Allah and His Messenger (saws) and instead chooses to follow any other person as his ‘guide’, or invents and follows his own ‘way’ of life; they are indeed the ones who are astray.

The Straight Path is the one which Allah describes in detail in the Holy Quran, and the Path or Way of Life which the Prophet (saws), his noble family, and his noble companions followed. That is the Straight Path.

The sects of Shias, Sunnis, Ismaelis, Bohras, etc. are the creation and invention of man himself, and have absolutely no basis in Islam. Whoever believes, follows and obeys Allah and His Messenger (saws) are honored to be recognized and called by the name that Allah has chosen for the believers; that is, ‘muslims’.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 38:Henceforth, there shall come to you Guidance from Me (Allah) now and again. Whoever will follow it shall have neither fear nor sorrow, and whoever will refuse to accept it and defy Our Revelations; they shall be doomed to the Fire wherein they shall remain for ever.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verse 31-32:O Prophet, tell the people, “If you sincerely love Allah, follow me. Then Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for He is All Forgiving, All Merciful.” Also say to them, “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, warn them that Allah does not love those, who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 153:This alone is My Right Way. Therefore you should follow this Way and should follow other ways, lest they should lead you astray from His Way. This is what Allah has enjoined on you, so that you may attain piety.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 43 Surah Zukhruf verse 43:So hold fast to the Book that has been revealed to you: you are surely on the Straight Way!

Thus brother, we never claim that one sect is guided and the other is astray! Whoever believes, obeys and follows the Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) are on the Straight and Right Path. Whoever rejects the Quran and Sunnah, and obeys and follows anyone else as their guide or invents his own ‘way’; they are the ones who are astray from the Right Way.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan