ORGANIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE THEATRE SECTS

85 It is mentioned in reliable hadith collections that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) informed his Companions that "fitnas" would emerge after him. The interpretation of definitive texts based on desires and whims is closely related to "political ambitions" and emerged after the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). The emergence of "false prophets" during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the first of these fitnas. Later, political debates began.

86 Political sects, interpreting the verses "Mutashabih" and "Mujmal" in the book of Allah Almighty (swt) with abstract reasoning, without possessing any knowledge, have put forward different theological views. The tragic martyrdom of Hz. Uthman (ra), in particular, accelerated the exploitation of these sects. It is a fact that the theological sects rapidly proliferated after the martyrdom of Hz. Hussein (ra) in Karbala. In his work "Makalat," Imam al-Ash'ari states that the first disagreement within the Ummah stemmed from the issue of the "Imamate."

87 The hadith of the Ummah (nation) being divided into seventy-three sects, which appears in many reputable sources, is closely related to the formation of religious schools. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The Children of Israel were divided into seventy-two sects. My Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects. Except for one, all of them will go to Hell.” When the Companions asked, “Which is that exception, O Messenger of Allah?”, the Prophet (pbuh) gave the good news: “The community that follows my path and the path of my companions.”(110) In another hadith, it is known that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) ordered: “Stick to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my rightly-guided caliphs.”(111)

88 Abdul Qadir al-Baghdadi mentions the following about the Hadith that "proclaims the division of the Ummah into sects": "The Hadith about the division of the Ummah into sects has many chains of narration. This Hadith has been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) by many of the Companions such as Anas ibn Malik, Abu Hurayrah, Abu'd-Darda', Jabir, Abu Saeed al-Khudri, Ubayy ibn Kaab, Abdullah ibn Amr al-As, Abu Umamah, Wasilah ibn al-Aska and others. It has been narrated that the first four Caliphs (the Rashidun Caliphs) said that after them the Ummah would be divided into sects, and only one of them would be saved, while the others would go astray in this world and be destroyed in the Hereafter."(112)

89 Those who followed the path of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs were given the name "Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'a." Its common usage in Türkiye is "Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'at" or "Ahl al-Sunnah." Throughout history, the overwhelming majority of Muslims have been "Ahl al-Sunnah."

90 Islamic scholars divided the sects of faith into two: “Ahl al-Sunnah” and “Ahl al-Bid’ah”.

Bid'ah is anything derived from knowledge, deeds, or states received from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that contradicts "Truth" and is later transformed into a belief as a result of an interpretation or doubt. Alaud-Din al-Haskafi, a Hanafi scholar, defines Bid'ah as "believing contrary to what is known and known from the Prophet (peace be upon him)."(113) It is known that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fabricates anything that is not from our religion, his invention is rejected. Every bid'ah is a misguided act."(114) The ruling "Küllü Bid'atü'n Dalatün" in this hadith is a general statement. Imam Ghazali states, "Rejecting bid'ah and refraining from it is an approved Sunnah. Every bid'ah is condemned and misleading." (115) Imam Rabbani, in his work "Letters," emphasizes the importance of this issue by saying, "Bid'ah has no good deed. All are condemned." (116) Scholars who named later sound customs or good practices "Bid'ah al-Hasanah" used the word bid'ah in its literal meaning. The Mu'tazila school of thought, on the other hand, considered and defended bid'ah al-Hasanah as actions that the human mind deems good.

91 Sects that deviate from the path of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) through reasonable interpretation and doubt retain their status as "People of the Qibla" as long as they do not deny matters of religious necessity. The ruling that "Ahl al-Qibla will not be declared a disbeliever" is unanimously accepted by the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah. The hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is based on: "Whoever prays as we pray, faces our Qibla, and eats what we sacrifice, then that is the Muslim under the protection of Allah and His Messenger. Do not violate the protection of Allah." (117) If they deny matters of essential belief, they lose their status as "People of the Qibla."

92 Philosophers who found the rules revealed by Allah Almighty (swt) to be ugly and invented rules based on their own desires and whims to replace them, generally emerged from among the "People of Bid'ah".

93 Today, the following sects of faith exist in different parts of the world and are distinct from the "Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l Jama'ah" in faith:

1. Ibadiyya,

2. Wahhabism,

3. Zaydiyya,

4. Ismailiyya,

5. Imamiyya,

6. Nusayrism,

7. Druze,

8. Qadiyaniyya,

9. Babism,

10. Baha'iyya,

11. Alevism.

94 In the creed, although they admit to be from the “Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah”, it is also possible to come across those who, as a result of the invasions of the arrogant ones, adopt the ideologies of disbelief and advocate the separation of “religion and worldly affairs”. These; by supporting the political forces that reject the rulings revealed by Allah Almighty (swt), they ensure the strengthening of “Disbelief”. Furthermore, they are not even ashamed to call the lands ruled by the rulings of disbelief “Darû’l-Islam”. Some of them are heedless, some are ignorant and some are traitors!.. Although they continue their life in the dominion of Allah Almighty (swt) with the sustenance He has provided, they take pleasure in supporting the taghuti forces. Although they know that the life of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the Companions was spent in continuous jihad; To conceal this truth, they are busy spreading "Superstition." Of course, these have nothing to do with "Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah."

95 Believers who submit unconditionally to Allah Almighty and His Messenger (peace be upon him) are aware that they do not determine the place or time of the test. Regardless of their situation, they are meticulous about maintaining the limits of the Sharia.

Because they know that obedience to Allah Almighty and His Messenger (peace be upon him) is obligatory, they never bargain. This is the common characteristic of the "Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jama'ah."

(110) Sunan Ibn Majah-Ist: 1401, Cagrı Yay. Vol.: 2, Sh: 1322, Hadith No: 3993. Also Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan Darimi.

(111) Molla Khusraw-Durerul Huqkam-Ist: 1307, Vol: 1, Page: 119, also Sunan Ibn Majah (1, 16, 42), Musnad (4, 126-27), Sunan Darimi, Introduction: 16.

(112) Abdulkadir Al Baghdadi-El Fark beyne'l firak-Ist: 1979, Kalem Publications. Page: 9.

(113) Ibn Abidin-Reddul Muhtar Ale'd Durrul Muhtar-Ist: 1982, Vol: 2, Page: 409.

(114) Sahih Muslim-Ist: 1401, Cagrı Publications. Volume: 1, Page: 592, Hadith No: 867.

(115) Imam-i Gazali-İlcamu'l Avam-Ist: 1978 (Second Chapter) Page: 78.

(116) Imam-i Rabbani-El Mektubat-Ist: 1978, Cagrı Publications. Vol: 1, Page: 121, Mck. No: 186.

(117) Imam-i Azam Abu Hanifa-Fiqh-i Akbar (Commentary on Aliyyü'l Qari) Istanbul: 1979, Cagrı Publications, p. 425.