Sectarianism amongst Muslims in Gujarat!
Sectarianism is more prevalent among the religious that we `lay muslims’ (do not take it literally, please) think-
The Barelvis don’t let Deobandis enter their mosques though both are Sunnis.. And the latter don’t tolerate the entry of the former in their mosques.
Are we ashamed?
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Oh my goodness, i can totally relate to this, being a Guji Muslim! Not sure if this is worse, or equally as bad (either way, it’s very bad!), but the Guji Muslims have emigrated with this mindset, so we see the exact same problems here in the UK – even in the same borough of London – where people don’t go to this mosque, or that mosque, cos it’s this or that. My family are ‘deobandi’, and alhamdulillah, my father tends to pray in any Sunni mosque (i think he even prayed in Shia mosques when we were in Germany for a couple of weeks), and there are people on the ‘other side’, who are equally as open-minded, mashallah)
However, i would like to add that there are some theological differences between the two groups – it’s not quite hot air over nothing – but those differences are really for the scholars to debate over in a respectable manner, and not any excuse for two Muslim brothers to show contempt to one another, and for the houses of Allah to become tools of separation.
I wonder, perhaps that such people are more welcome towards the idea of non-Muslims entering their masaajid, than a Muslim from the ‘wrong’ group!!
I was once kicked out of a Barelwi mosque in England when my friend didn’t kiss his thumbs during adhan.
As iMuslim mentioned above, there certainly are some theological differences between Barelwis and Deobandis that can’t simply be ignored. This doesn’t mean we should be kicking each other out of our mosques, but it’s a bit simplistic to say that everyone should just get along and ignore those fundamental differences. If you disagree with a person and believe he is in error, you may not want to jeopardize something as valuable as your salaah because of that person. I’m not saying that others are wrong; I’m just saying that when someone refuses to pray behind someone from another group, it’s because they value their salaah and don’t want to risk having it negated by an imam that they believe is misinformed or misguided.
I’ll admit, i would think twice about marrying a Barelwi brother, but not cos i’m from a Deobandi family, as i don’t even consider myself a follower of that school, but because i’m uncertain about some of their practices. But to be fair, i’d think twice about a brother who calls himself Deobandi! I’m just careful with everyone, pretty much!
I think the poor attitude bothers me more than the fact that people don’t want to pray behind an imam from a different group. At least these brothers care about their salaat enough to pray in congregation. Alhamdulillah, there are enough masaajid to accomodate everyone’s flavour of Islam – well, actually, they were most likely established because of these differences! So people can attend whichever masjid they choose – but being kicked out of the masjid is just poor! Will the masjid become polluted by the presence of a non-Barelwi/non-Deobandi?? Just silly, really.
Hey, this isn’t right, you should discuss this at the linked blog.
These are no idle talk. These are important issues, and you do seem to take it seriously, only please do it at the linked site.
Sorry Manas, but one quick comment… being that my father’s side is brelwi, mother’s deobandi, I can tell you that the differences are not minor at all. Rather, the gravity and quantity of innovative religious practices that are found in brelwis and in who they direct their worship and dua’ to, makes you wonder where they got all of it from!
In any case, and on a completely unrelated subject (except for being related to Gujarat), I would also like to point everyone to the little post MM had on the Gujarat massacre of a few years ago… a poignant reminder of the horror of hindu extremism.
http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/12/flashback-gujarat-massacre-of-2002/
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