Is it permissible for there to be multiple groups working for Islam?

The questioner : The question asks: Is it permissible for there to be multiple groups working for Islam?

The questioner : This is a question that, as they say today, presents itself, and it is a valid one. It is known to all people that this matter is permissible, and I say the same as they do; but with one condition, and this condition must be heeded by all these groups for two reasons. The first reason is so that the circle of Islam unites them. The second condition is that they should also, as we said regarding the general Muslim population, know how to proceed in their da'wah (calling to Islam). If there are multiple groups and each group follows a necessary path—because I truly believe in a reality that no one can argue against, which is that an individual scholar cannot gather all Islamic sciences such that if asked about any science, he answers you. As they say in our common language in Syria, "By the will of Allah, so-and-so is like a Chinese plate; from wherever you throw it, it rings and answers." It is inconceivable that a scholar would be an expert in tafsir (exegesis), the sciences of the Qur'an, hadith, qira'at (recitations), Hanafi and Shafi'i fiqh, comparative fiqh, and so on, as well as language, grammar, and morphology. This is impossible. One person might gather these sciences in a general way, but to benefit people, he must be a specialist in one of these sciences, distinguished in it from others. And so it is with every scholar in the world. This group of specialized scholars is the one who can fulfill the obligation as a whole: the obligation of the science of tafsir, the science of hadith, and so on. One person cannot do it. In light of these individuals, we say that regarding groups, and since every group is composed of individuals, no group on earth can uphold Islam as a whole. That is, this group cannot be knowledgeable of the Book and the Sunnah in the detailed manner mentioned earlier. We do not repeat it, but rather, each group takes on an aspect of Islam. To give an example, there is no party in Islam except one party, as Allah the Exalted said: . There are multiple groups so that they do not become just one party. They should be within the circle of Islam, saying "Allah said" and "The Messenger of Allah said." For example, some of these groups are dominated by the study of religious rulings; they focus on knowing the rulings of Islam in everything related to acts of worship, let alone beliefs. They strike in this aspect, but naturally they cannot strike in another aspect. What is this other aspect? It is directing themselves to the people to teach and guide them, as mentioned earlier, regarding virtues, the nobility of character, and the like. As a group or block, they differ in this; but as individuals, they may differ. However, this second group also cannot fulfill what the first group fulfilled. And so on, for as many groups as you wish. Each group fulfills what it is obligatory for some Muslims to perform. I will give you a final, old example. We used to hear that there was a group in Egypt called the Muslim Youth Group, from which the Muslim Brotherhood later emerged. The Muslim Youth Group, as a group, did not focus on the scientific aspect of Islam. I am not speaking as individuals; there may be individuals who focus on the first aspect, which is the aspect of knowledge, and there may be others who focus on guiding and teaching people. But as a block, as a group, what did they focus on? Sports: basketball, football, and the like. There is nothing wrong with this sports activity, but on the condition that it is within the circle of the Islamic Shari'ah. So these cooperate with these, and these with these, and all of them walk within the circle of Islam. I mean, to give a simple example, the last group that relies on issues and sports activities—we said this is a good thing. But this sports activity may be surrounded by some rulings that these athletes must adhere to. To give an example, it is not permissible for this group to compete, for instance, some of them against others, or against other groups, at times when they miss an obligatory prayer from the five daily prayers. So they must adhere to the same Shari'ah rulings in their performance of the duty of exercising. Also, for example, they must be distinguished, as a group of athletes holding fast to Islam, by not appearing as other athletes appear among people, exposing their private parts, exposing their thighs, wearing what is called today "shorts" in some languages, and "turban" in correct Arabic, which is a trouser without sleeves, and it is tight, potentially covering the major private part. These Muslim athletes must appear in their Islamic attire and form. At that time, they fulfill a duty that people like us, who are bent on knowledge and teaching knowledge and the like, cannot fulfill. This is a very simple example. If these groups proceed from this general Islamic standpoint, then excellent is what they do and what they achieve. But, unfortunately, this duty is not realized in many of these groups. In fact, there is discord and turning away between one group and another. Why? Because the methodologies on which these groups were established were not established on the Islamic constitution that we strive, with our shouting and clamor, to transform the constitution that came to us from the West into an Islamic constitution. And we are unable to apply a part of this constitution in our small gathering: one hundred percent, ten percent, and so on. As for the large Muslim society that we want to rule with the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), therefore I say on this occasion that all these groups have no objection to specializing, each in what it is directed toward, but on the condition that their work in their specialization is within the limits of the circle of Islam. If these people do not adhere to the ruling of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, not only in their mentioned specialization but also in their personal acts of worship and their individual conduct, they cannot be a group that fulfills a duty that no other group can fulfill, because they claimed that they specialized. This specialization only benefits them if they adhere to the rulings of Allah and the Shari'ah of Allah. In summary, if these groups are working in their specializations within the circle of Islam, then excellent is it. Otherwise, it is the division that is prohibited in the Book of Allah and in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and this is known to you all, if Allah wills.