Agra | Muhammad Iqbal, the Imam of Masjid Neharwali, preached today about differences among Muslims in the Friday Sermon. He first narrated a Hadith from Mishkat Sharif, “Usama bin Shareek says that I went out for Hajj with the Prophet (peace be upon him), and people came to him. Some would say, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I did Sa’i before Tawaf.’ Some would say, ‘I did this thing earlier,’ while others said, ‘I did that thing later.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) would reply, ‘There is no harm in that.’ The real harm and destructive thing is when someone attacks the honor of their Muslim brother.” In the last part of this Hadith, it is said, “The real harm and destructive thing is when someone attacks the honor of their Muslim brother.” Today, this same atmosphere is being created among us, which is extremely distressing. Those prominent Muslim leaders, who the public looks up to, people are always ready to act upon their signals. They are responsible for their own groups, yet such disagreements are often heard among them. They are unwilling to tolerate each other, despite advising the public to be patient and tolerant. What effect will such leaders have on the public? Have they ever thought about this? Is it right to jeopardize the future of the community just for their own “ego” ? Is this the principle of Islam ? It is saddening to see such things happening among the people. Everyone in this country is a citizen and has the right to deliver their message anywhere. Who gave you the authority to restrict someone from delivering their message in a certain area ? Fear Allah, O servants of Allah ! Think about the people who look up to you. Do you not realize the impact it has on society? You are causing a great loss. I humbly request that all of you knowledgeable individuals are our “treasure” and we value you. But please, do not bring further disgrace to this oppressed community by continuing these internal disagreements. May Allah grant us all the right understanding.
