10/06/2026
▶️ SOME DEVIANT SECTS ✍
Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi rahimahullah said:
"Every group that calls itself by other than the identity of Islam and the Sunnah is a mubtadi’ (an innovator) such as: Rafidhah (Sh1’4h), Jahmiyah, Khawarij, Qadariyah, Murji’ah, Mu’tazilah, Karramiyah, Kullabiyah, and other groups similar to them. These are the deviant sects and innovated groups. May Allah protect us from them."
(📚 Lum’atul I’tiqad, as quoted in Al Is’ad fi Sharhi Lum’atil I’tiqad p. 90. See also Sharh Lum’atul I’tiqad by Shaykh al-‘Uthaymin, p. 161)
After quoting Ibn Qudamah’s statement, Shaykh Muhammad bin Salih al-‘Uthaymin rahimahullah mentioned some of the characteristics of Ahlul Bid’ah . He said: "The people of innovation have several characteristics, among them: 👇
▪They have a character other than the character of Islam and the Sunnah, as a result of the innovations they introduce, whether in speech, action, or belief.
▪They are fanatical about the opinions of their group. Thus, they refuse to return to the truth even when it becomes clear to them.
▪They hate the Imams of the Muslim Ummah and the religious leaders (scholars)."
(📚 Sharh Lum’atul I’tiqad, p. 161)
Then Shaykh al-‘Uthaymin explained each of these deviant sects briefly, one by one. Below is a summary of his explanation with some additions from other sources. They are: 👇
➡*First: Rafidhah (Shia)
They are those who go to extremes in venerating ahlul bait (the Prophet’s family). They also declare takfir on those outside their group, whether from the Companions or others. Some of them even accuse the Companions of becoming sinful after the death of the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. They are divided into many sects. Among them are those so extreme that they deify ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, and others whose deviation is less severe than that. Their prominent figure in this era is Khomeini and his followers.
(📚See Al Furqon Magazine, Issue 6 Year V/Muharram 1427 p. 49-53, ed.)
➡ Second: Jahmiyah.
They are called so because they follow the school of Jahm bin Safwan, whose school of thought is deviant. In matters of tawheed, their school rejects Allah’s attributes. In matters of divine decree, they follow the Jabriyah view, which holds that humans are compelled and have no choice in doing good or evil. Regarding faith, their school follows Murji’ah, which holds that faith is merely belief in the heart without requiring speech or action. The consequence of their view is that a major sinner is a believer with perfect faith. Wallahul musta’an.
➡ Third: Khawarij.
They are those who rebelled against Caliph ‘Ali bin Abi Talib radhiyallahu ‘anhu over the issue of arbitration. Among their beliefs is permitting rebellion against a Muslim ruler and declaring takfir on major sinners. They are also divided into many sects. (On rebellion, see Al Furqon Magazine Issue 6 Year V/Muharram 1427 p. 31-36, ed.)
➡ Fourth: Qadariyah.
They are those who reject the existence of divine decree. They believe that a servant has free will and ability to act independently of Allah’s will and power. The first to openly promote this view was Ma’bad al-Juhani at the end of the Companions’ era. Some of them are extreme, and some are not. Even the non-extreme ones say that a servant’s actions occur without Allah’s will, power, or creation, which is also deviant.
➡*Fifth: Murji’ah.
According to them, actions are not part of faith. Thus, faith is sufficient with mere acknowledgment in the heart. The consequence of their view is that a major sinner has perfect faith, even if he commits any sin and abandons any act of obedience. Their school is the opposite of the Khawarij’s school.
➡*Sixth: Mu’tazilah.
They are the followers of Wasil bin ‘Ata’, who i’tazala (separated) from Hasan al-Basri’s study circle. He stated that a person who commits a major sin is, in this world, in a position between two positions (manzilah bayna manzilatain)—neither a disbeliever nor a believer. However, in the Hereafter, they will ultimately abide eternally in Hell. Another figure who followed him was Amr bin ‘Ubaid. In matters of tawheed of Names and Attributes, their school rejects them (ta’til), like the Jahmiyah. In matters of divine decree, they follow Qadariyah. Regarding major sinners, they consider them neither disbelievers nor believers. With these last two principles, they actually contradict the Jahmiyah, because the Jahmiyah follow Jabriyah and believe that sin does not harm faith.
➡*Seventh: Karramiyah.
They are the followers of Muhammad bin Karram, who inclined toward Tashbih (likening Allah’s attributes to creation) and followed the view of Murji’ah. They are also divided into many sects.
➡*Eighth: Kullabiyah.
They are the followers of Abdullah bin Sa’id bin Kullab al-Basri. They are the ones who introduced the statement about the Seven Attributes of Allah that they affirm through reason. Then the Asha’irah (who claim to follow Imam Abul Hasan al-Ash’ari) in this era have followed their deviant path. It should be known that Imam Abul Hasan al-Ash’ari initially followed the Mu’tazilah school until about age 40. After that, he repented and exposed the falsehood of the Mu’tazilah school. In the middle of his return to the manhaj of Ahlus Sunnah, he held a belief like this that only affirmed seven of Allah’s attributes: life, knowledge, power, speech, will, hearing, and sight. Eventually, he repented completely and adhered firmly to the school of Ahlus Sunnah. May Allah have mercy on him.
(📚See Sharh Lum’atul I’tiqad, p. 161-163)
Shaykh Abdur Razzaq al-Jaza’iri hafizhahullah said: "And deviant sects are not limited to the sects already mentioned. These are only some of them. Among other deviant sects are: the Sufis with their various tareeqahs, the Shi’ah with their sects, the Mulhidah (atheists) with their various groups. Also, the groups that are fond of tahazzub (forming partisan groups) in the present time with their various currents, such as: Jama’ah Hijrah wa Takfir, which follows the Khawarij; the negative impact of their actions has spread everywhere (i.e., the spread of bombings and rebellion against rulers, ed.), Jama’ah Tabligh from India, which follows Sufism, the Jihad groups who are pure Khawarij, the al-Jaz’arah group, as well as al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun both internationally and regionally (read Uncovering the Doubts and Confusions of the Muslim Brotherhood by Ustadz Andy Abu Talib Al Atsary hafizhahullah). Some of them (Ikhwanul Muslimin) have also developed into several Takfiri groups. And there are many other deviant groups besides them."
(📚See al-Is’ad fi Sharhi Lum’atul I’tiqad, p. 91-92. For those who want to examine more deeply the reality and danger behind existing groups, please read ‘Islamic Groups’ by Shaykh Salim bin ‘Eid al-Hilali hafizhahullah)
🖊 Author:
Meydiana Rizki
Islamic International Network
🔰
How to Avoid Deviant Sects ✍
The Messenger of Allah shallallahu ’alaihi wa sallam said:
"I have left among you two things; you will not go astray if you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and the Sunnah of His Messenger."
(📚Narrated by Malik in Al Muwatta [2/899]. Shaykh Al Albani in Mishkat al-Masabih said this hadith is hasan).[184]
From this hadith, it is clear that the way to avoid deviation is to hold fast to the Qur’an and the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah shallallahu ’alaihi wa sallam. That is, by studying them and then acting upon them.
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq radhiyallahu ‘anhu said:
"I would not leave anything that the Messenger of Allah shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to do except that I would do it, because I fear that if I left even a little of it, I would deviate."
(📚Narrated by Bukhari: 3093 and Muslim: 1759).
This hadith also indicates the importance of studying religious knowledge, namely the Qur’an and Hadith.
There is a saying of our early scholars: 👇
"Knowledge will protect its possessor in this world and the Hereafter. Wealth cannot protect you. Rather, you are the one who protects your wealth in boxes and cabinets." (📚Quoted from the translation of _Kayfa Tatahammas fi Talabil ‘Ilmi Asy Shar’i_, Abul Qa’qa Alu Abdillah)
In brief, there are several tips to avoid the influence of deviant sects, including:👇
--Studying religious knowledge.
--Attend ta’leem gatherings led by trustworthy scholars.
--Recognize and understand the characteristics of deviant sects.
--Frequently associate with ahlul ‘ilm.
--Be a person who is scientific and evidence-based.
--Be suspicious if you find a group calling to Islam but doing so secretly.
--Do not hesitate to consult scholars or trustworthy teachers when you find something odd in religious practice.
--Make du’a 👇
Yaa muqallibal quloob, thabbit qalbi ‘alaa deenik
Meaning: "O Allah, Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion."
(📚Narrated by Muslim)
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