Source: perspectivesofafellowtraveler.wordpress.com

Before I begin I would like to point out that this is not directed at all Muslims, as there are many that already have nothing but love for their brothers and sisters from different Islamic traditions, but to those whom still remain in their ignorance and bigotry.

George Curzon, former British Foreign Minister

As a Muslim when ever I read that quote I get infuriated. There has never before been any moment in history with a greater need of Muslim unity than the present moment. Yet when I think of that quote, no matter how mad I get, I realize Islam does not need any outside force to keep it divided, we do that ourselves. Sure the European nations which colonized the Islamic world divided it up into superficial states that did not exist before hand. However the problems that prevent Islamic unity are religious and theological, and these disputes are caused by Muslims.

At present moment Shia and Sunni Muslims both condemn and kill each other.

Sunni and Shia Muslims praying together in Iraq. Can you distinguish between the two?

The animosity between Sunni and Shia is one that has existed since atleast the Abbasid era (1258 C.E). There is a history of violence and persecution of Ahmadiyya by their Muslim brothers. More recently Hadith believers and those who do not accept the Hadith, Quranisti, both denounce each other as not being real Muslims. It is not just sect against sect, it is sometimes madhhabii against madhhabiii. Once here in Indonesia I heard an Imam say that Muslims in North Africa don’t have fiqh because they follow the Maliki madhhab. This mentality of, “If you don’t believe just as I do you are not a Muslim, you are not my brother or sister.”, has to stopiv.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” -Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States of America

The Consequences Of This Infighting

The world is no longer a collection of disconnected nations and peoples but an interconnected global community, which the Islamic world and Muslims are apart of. This is due to the advent of jet planes and the internet. People can travel from one side of the planet to the next in less than a day now and information can circle the globe with the press of a button. When something happens on one side of the planet, it can be known all over the globe almost instantly. Another reality of the modern world is: whether we like it or not, regardless of whether it is fair or not, Non-Muslims judge Islam based on our actions. Every single Muslim, no mater what sect or tradition they follow is an ambassador of Islam to the World.

Whenever one Muslim calls another Muslim, who practices a different form of Islam a disbeliever, insults them, and/or threatens them, this has far …read the rest @ perspectivesofafellowtraveler.wordpress.com