By Habib Bilal
Jammu and Kashmir, often referred to as ‘Paradise on Earth’ not only acclaimed with its beautiful landscapes but also due to its remarkably rich cultural and religious heritage. The Muslim community in the region never existed in discord with the members of other religions- Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists and has also maintained the cultural values of unity in diversity. Such peaceful co-existence was possible because Muslims were taught values of mutual respect, tolerance and compassion which they wholeheartedly applied not only amongst themselves but also with other communities. As a peaceful family brings peace to whole neighbourhood and a peaceful neighbourhood becomes the reason for peace in the society at a much larger scale. In contrast, a divided family or a fragmented society will only spread discord, and will not be in a position to bring peace to anywhere. There was a time when Muslims of Jammu & Kashmir enjoyed harmonious relations among themselves and also with members of other faiths and it is this peace that was attained by the Muslims internally which helped them to live in complete harmony with the rest of the society. This peaceful co-existence and unity was not only the landmark of their fortitude but the defining beauty of their collective identity. Nowadays, the sectarian narratives, which are usually encouraged by the social media and are sponsored by vested interests, are becoming a curse as they destroy the spirit of brotherhood. Unfortunately external influences, political manipulations, and the ignorance of religious preachers have created tensions between different sects of Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir. This article serves as a plea to the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir to minimize their sectarian differences, denounce sect-based identities, uphold unity and live as the true followers of Islam emphasizing peace, compassion and harmony.
The first and the foremost thing that every Muslim ought to be aware of is that ‘sectarianism’ has nothing to do with Islam. The teachings of the Quran and Hadith reject with absolute clarity the concept of sectarianism and condemn the divisions on the basis of ethnicity, tribe or sect. The regional, cultural and ideological differences that existed among the early generations of Muslims did not make a difference since they were one Ummah sharing common message of Islam. It united them and therefore made them able to overcome the challenges, deliver justice and establish such a civilization that became a model to the entire world. Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir today need to rediscover this spirit of unity and forget their internal differences and reaffirm that they are Muslims and could once again synthesize and strive towards peace, dignity and development. This is the same time when Muslims present in Jammu and Kashmir should resurrect this brotherhood and unity spirit.
Quranic Revelations: The Holy Qur'an provides clear guidance against sectarianism, emphasizing unity among Muslims as a fundamental principle of faith. Islam urges believers to rise above sectarian identities and embrace a collective Muslim identity rooted in faith, compassion, and justice. Division is seen as a source of weakness and deviation from divine guidance. The Quran strongly condemns sectarianism and division among Muslims, it says: “Surely this religion of yours is ˹only˺ one, and I am your Lord, so fear Me ˹alone˺. Yet the people have divided it into different sects, each rejoicing in what they have” (Al-Mu'minun, 52-53). This verse highlights that Islam is one unified religion and that Allah alone is the Lord of all believers, despite this, people have fragmented into sects, each arrogantly clinging to their own interpretations. At another place the Quran warns us against making divisions, it says: “And do not be like those who split ˹into sects˺ and differed after clear proofs had come to them. It is they who will suffer a tremendous punishment (Ale-Imran, 3:105). This verse illustrates that after receiving guidance, those who split into sects despite knowing the truth will face severe punishment. Another important thing which Quran tells us is that the disunity often arises from mutual jealousy, envy and rivalry, it says: “They did not split ˹into sects˺ out of mutual envy until knowledge came to them” (Ash-Shuraa, 14), and it proves that sectarianism is a result of human weakness rather than divine will. Then Muslims are commanded to remain united by holding firmly to the "rope of Allah" a metaphor for the Quran and Islamic teachings, and to avoid divisions that weaken the Ummah (Ale Imran, 103). Finally, for those who persist in engaging in sectarianism despite clear warnings, a decisive message was revealed to the Prophet that "Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects - you, (O Muhammad), are not (associated) with them in anything. Their affair is only (left) to Allah; then He will inform them about what they used to do" (Al-Ana’am, 159).
Prophetic Teachings: It is evident from the Qur’an that Islam strictly condemns sectarianism and commands believers to remain united. Therefore, all Hadiths and traditions related to this subject should be understood in the light of the Qur’anic guidance, wherein lies true wisdom and guidance. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ foretold the emergence of sects as a warning – not as justification for division as some people misinterpret. The notion of misinterpreting the Hadith of 73-Sects to legitimize sectarianism contradicts the core message of the Qur’an. This hadith was aimed at warning the Ummah not to take the same path that divided other peoples in the past rather to become a united single nation (Jama‘ah). The Prophet Muhammadﷺ greatly stressed the need of the unity among Muslim people and destroyed the division in the powerful and unequivocal manner. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) strongly emphasized the importance of unity among Muslims and warned against division in clear and powerful terms. He said, “Indeed, Allah loves for you that you worship Him and do not associate anyone with Him, and that you hold fast to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided into sects” (Sahih Muslim, 4481), highlighting that unity is not only a moral value but a divine command. In another narration, he warned, “Whoever separates himself from the main body of the Muslims and dies, dies the death of Jahiliyyah” (Sahih Muslim, 1848), equating sectarian isolation with the ignorance of pre-Islamic times. To further illustrate the ideal model of Muslim brotherhood, he stated, “The believers, in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion, are like a single body. If one part of the body suffers, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever” (Sahih Bukhari, 6011).
Therefore, all these revelations of the Quran and the traditions of the Prophetﷺ are a stark reminder that unity isn’t a choice rather a commandment and sectarianism is such a heinous act that can only result in spiritual and social devastation. Real faith necessitated to submit to Allah and overlook human-made divisions and form brotherhood amongst believers. These hadiths vividly show that splitting and sectarianism is something that the Prophet Muhammadﷺ despised as much as he encouraged the Ummah to cling onto unity, brotherhood, Quran and Sunnah.
The Dangers of Sectarianism: Sectarianism is a cancerous illness hollowing out the power of Muslim Ummah, fragmenting its unity and vulnerable to many evils. Every time Muslims get obsessed over their minor ideological differences instead of their fundamental religious values, they weaken themselves from within, making the entire community susceptible to external threats. Valued time, energies and resources needed in the common good are wasted in pointless internal conflicts resulting in further division within. This division strips the Muslim world of its moral authority and deprives it from collectively advocating for justice and protecting Islamic values. Worst of all, these sectarian divisions offer useful avenues to be exploited by foreign elements, who manipulate these divisions to create chaos within Muslims to support their interests and agendas. The consequences of sectarianism are not only theological but tactically disastrous undermining the very foundations of Muslim unity and strength.
The Role of Islamic Scholars and Preachers: The role of religious scholars and preachers is extremely crucial in determining the overall thinking of Muslim community. It holds immense influence to the extent; they can implement a complete change by playing a vibrant role themselves in eradicating sectarianism. Rather than emphasizing their theological differences and indulge themselves in these religious arguments and give threatening speeches, they should stress on the shared beliefs and practices, highlight fundamental values, encourage inter-sect dialogue and promote unity. By using their resources and shifting their energies toward collaborative social and educational initiatives for the overall development of Muslim community, they can transform mosques and pulpits into platforms of unity rather than division. In prioritizing their religious obligation to further the cause of peace over disunity, the religious intelligentsia not only fulfil their sacred duty, but they also pave the way for a more inclusive and united Muslim Ummah.
The Youth’s Responsibility: The youth of Jammu and Kashmir being the future of the region can play a vital role in combating sectarianism through their active efforts by educating themselves about its harms and rejecting the divisive ideologies. Today's youth despite being knowledgeable are very emotional as well; they openly express their feelings and ideas on social media. While expressing their opinions especially on religious issues, they should consider that their comments do not spread any kind of hatred in the Muslim Ummah. Youth who are associated with different religious organizations should respect each other's organizations and despite having difference they should express reverence to the religious scholars of other groups and sects. Difference does not imply that we must embark to be disrespectful, belittling and humiliating other people who do not agree with our views on particular issues. Our youth should also refrain from spoiling their relations because of the sectarian differences and lead themselves and others to the way of brotherhood and unity.
Political Exploitation of Sectarianism: The need to stay united has never been more important in J&K because of the challenges that Muslims in the region endure both politically and socially. Sectarian conflicts are just in the interest of the people who want to weaken the Muslim community. However, increasingly recent years have witnessed depressing overtures to bring out divisions between Shia-Sunni, Barelvi-Deobandi-Salafi and other groups. Such divisions are usually propagated by the outsides that find it favourable to cause instability in the region. The Muslims of J&K need to identify such tricks and avoid the pit fall of sectarianism. Sadly, the sectarian divisions have at times been promoted due to political interest as certain groups and foreign actors directly or indirectly get benefited from a divided Kashmir. The Muslim society Kashmir has to be very cautious and not give anyone any chance to cause division with the community. History shows that whenever Muslims were united they achieved great victories, and vice versa, their disunity was always disruptive and resulted in failure.
In conclusion, sectarianism is an unfamiliar notion, foreign to the historic and cultural past of Kashmir and is against the true teachings of the Islam which insists on unity, compassion and peaceful coexistence. It’s the collective responsibility of every individual, especially of Muslim scholar, leaders and the youth of J&K to foster harmony and employ education to counter sectarian conflicts and uphold the real spirit of Islam. Practicing and promoting unity is not merely a necessity of our time rather it’s a divine commandment. We should also remember that only by endorsing peace, unity and justice we can spread the true message of Islam. May Allah (swt) guide us all towards the right path, the path His Beloved Prophetﷺ. May He instil peace in our hearts, shield us from the evils of sectarianism and grant us enough strength to get through all the hustles and overcome every challenge with wisdom and perseverance. May peace and harmony prevail in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the whole world. Aameen!
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| About the Author: Habib Bilal is a Research Scholar in the Department of Islamic Studies at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, India. He can be reached at habib.sayedbilal@gmail.com |