Islam is meant for all people everywhere and throughout time, not just for certain groups or places. The document discusses three reasons why Muslims should follow Islam itself and not just other Muslims. First, Islam as transmitted by God and the Prophet Muhammad is perfect, while Muslims as human beings are imperfect. Second, after the Prophet's death Muslims divided into sects and schools of thought. Third, Islamic civilization has been stagnant for eight centuries, but Islam encourages independent reasoning and thinking rather than blindly following traditions.

1. Islam is a religion for all human everywhere and every time.
Not
Muslims
Not
knowledge Not angels
Not middle
east only
Not ancient
time only

2. (1) Islam not Muslims

3. • Islam is a religion, but Muslims are the people
who follow this religion.
• And we need to follow the religion, not the
followers of the religion.
• So why do we need to follow Islam not
Muslims?
• There are three reasons for that.

4. The First Reason
• Islam, as God and his prophet transmitted it to
us, is perfect. That is why the last verse that
the prophet Muhammad received from God in
the Quran was this verse:
َ‫ع‬ ُ‫ت‬ْ‫م‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ت‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ن‬‫ي‬ِ‫د‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ل‬ ُ‫ت‬ْ‫ل‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ك‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ال‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ل‬ ُ‫يت‬ ِ‫ض‬َ‫ر‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ع‬ِ‫ن‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬ُ‫م‬
‫ا‬ً‫ن‬‫ي‬ِ‫د‬ َ‫م‬ َ‫َل‬ْ‫س‬ِ ْ‫اْل‬
This day I have perfected for you your religion
and completed My favor upon you and have
approved for you Islam as religion. (5:3)

5. • And that is why Prophet Muhammad said in
his last sermon “the farewell speech”:
ُ‫س‬ َ‫ر‬ َّ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ُ‫ه‬َ‫غ‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ب‬ ُ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ،ٍ‫ك‬ِ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫م‬ ْ‫ن‬َ‫ع‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ث‬َّ‫د‬َ‫ح‬ َ‫و‬ََ‫ا‬ََ ‫وسل‬ ‫علهه‬ ‫ هلل‬ ‫لل‬ ِ َّ‫لَّل‬ ََ‫لو‬"ُ‫ت‬ْ‫ك‬ َ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬
ُ‫ت‬ْ‫ك‬َّ‫س‬َ‫م‬َ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ ‫لول‬ُّ‫ل‬ ِ‫ض‬َ‫ت‬ ْ‫ن‬َ‫ل‬ ِ‫ْن‬‫ي‬ َ‫ر‬ْ‫م‬َ‫أ‬ ْ ُ‫ك‬‫ه‬ِ‫ف‬َ‫ن‬ َ‫ة‬َّ‫ن‬ُ‫س‬ َ‫و‬ ِ َّ‫لَّل‬ َ‫اب‬َ‫ت‬ِ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ ِْ‫ه‬ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬".
Yahya related to me from Malik that he heard that the
Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him
peace, said, "I have left two matters with you. As long as
you hold to them, you will not go the wrong way. They
are the Book of God and the traditions of His Prophet."

6. • But on the other hand, Muslims are not
perfect, because they are a nation, like every
nation, they have good people and bad
people... honest and lairs... stupid and smart…
leaders and followers… sincere and hypocrites
… peaceful and terrorists … etc.

7. • So, like what happens in every religion and every county,
there are some Muslim scholars say an opinion just to
please their political leaders, or to follow the public
opinion, just to keep their positions. God described these
types of people in Quran when he said:
‫ل‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ر‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ش‬‫ل‬َ‫ف‬ ً‫هًل‬ِ‫ل‬ََ ‫ا‬ً‫ن‬َ‫م‬َ‫ث‬ ِ َّ‫لَّل‬ ِ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ي‬‫آ‬ِ‫ب‬ْ ُ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ۚ ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ل‬‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬َ‫س‬ ‫ن‬َ‫ع‬ ‫ول‬ُّ‫د‬َ‫ص‬‫لول‬ُ‫ن‬‫ا‬َ‫ك‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ َ‫ء‬‫ا‬َ‫س‬
َ‫لون‬ُ‫ل‬َ‫م‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ي‬
They have purchased with the verses of God a
small price and averted [people] from His way.
Indeed, it was evil that they were doing. (9:9)

8. • Of course, there are very good and respected Muslim
scholars who refuse to purchase with the verses of God
a small price, and they pay the price, such Imam
Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal who was locked down; just because
his opinion did not please the caliph.
• But, even such these scholars, they are still human
beings like me and like you.
• They are not gods, or prophets, or angels. They are not
perfect.
• They have a lot of right opinions and some mistakes.
• That is why they do not agree with each other
sometimes.

9. "‫ولف‬ ‫ما‬ ‫فكل‬ ،‫رأيي‬ ‫في‬ ‫فانظرول‬ ،‫وألهب‬ ‫أخطئ‬ ‫بشر‬ ‫أنا‬ ‫إنما‬‫ق‬
‫فات‬ ‫وللسنة‬ ‫للكتاب‬ ‫يلولفق‬ ‫ل‬ ‫وما‬ ،‫به‬ ‫فخذول‬ ‫وللسنة‬ ‫للكتاب‬‫ركلوه‬".
“Surely I am only a man: I make mistakes
(sometimes) and I am correct (sometimes).
Therefore, look into my opinions: all that agrees
with the Book and the Sunnah accept it; and all
that does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah,
ignore it.''
Imam Mālik ibn Anas said:

10. • Also, he said:
‫مالك‬ ‫لإلمام‬ َ‫َا‬" :‫هذل‬ ‫لاحب‬ ‫إال‬ ‫ويرد‬ ‫َلوله‬ ‫من‬ ‫يؤخذ‬ ‫كل‬
‫للقبر‬."
''Everyone after the Prophet will have his sayings
accepted and rejected – except the Prophet.''

11. • 25 years after prophet’s death, his companions fought against each
other in the Battle of the Camel.
• Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abd Allah ibn Abbas and ʻAmmār ibn Yāsir were
in one army against the mothers of the believers ‘Ā’ishah bint Abī
Bakr, Talha bin Obaidullah and Az-Zubayr ibn Al-Awam.
• Ali ibn Abi Talib was asked: ““Is it possible that all these
companions of Prophet Muhammad have all gathered together for
falsehood? How can they be wrong? Is such a thing possible?”
Imam Ali gave such a powerful response. He said:
‫للحق‬َ‫بالرجا‬ ‫عرف‬ُ‫ي‬‫ال‬..‫بالحق‬ َ‫للرجا‬ ‫عرف‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫وإنما‬..‫أهله‬ ‫تعرف‬ ‫للحق‬ ‫فاعرف‬
“The truth is not to be known by the men, but the men are to be known
by the truth. Get to know the truth, and then you would know the
people of truth.”
Which means that the truth is not to be measured by the values and
personalities of men, but the values and personalities of men are to be
measured by the truth.

12. The Second Reason
• Muslims now are divided into many different sects and
schools of thoughts after the prophet’s death, even
though God in the Quran warned them of these
divisions and splits.
َ‫ين‬ِ‫ك‬ ِ‫ر‬ْ‫ش‬ُ‫م‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ن‬‫و‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫َل‬ َ‫و‬.َ‫ن‬‫ي‬ِ‫د‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ق‬َّ‫ر‬َ‫ف‬ َ‫ين‬ِ‫ذ‬َّ‫ال‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ً‫ع‬َ‫ي‬ِ‫ش‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ن‬‫ا‬َ‫ك‬ َ‫و‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬ۖ ‫ا‬
ْ‫م‬ِ‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫د‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ٍ‫ب‬ ْ‫ز‬ ِ‫ح‬ ُّ‫ل‬ُ‫ك‬َ‫ون‬ُ‫ح‬ ِ‫ر‬َ‫ف‬
Do not be of those who associate others with
God. [Or] of those who have divided their
religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing
in what it has. (30:29-32)

13. • Also, He said:
َ‫أ‬ َ‫و‬ ً‫ة‬َ‫د‬ ِ‫اح‬ َ‫و‬ ً‫ة‬َّ‫م‬ُ‫أ‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬ُ‫ت‬َّ‫م‬ُ‫أ‬ ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ذ‬ََٰ‫ه‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ َ‫و‬َ‫ق‬َ‫ت‬َ‫ف‬ ِ‫ون‬ُ‫ق‬َّ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ف‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ك‬ُّ‫ب‬َ‫ر‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ب‬ ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ر‬ْ‫م‬َ‫أ‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ع‬َّ‫ط‬
ْ‫م‬ِ‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫د‬َ‫ل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ٍ‫ب‬ ْ‫ز‬ ِ‫ح‬ ُّ‫ل‬ُ‫ك‬ ۖ ‫ا‬ً‫ر‬ُ‫ب‬ُ‫ز‬ُ‫ح‬ ِ‫ر‬َ‫ف‬َ‫ون‬
And indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and
I am your Lord, so fear Me." But the people
divided their religion among them into sects -
each faction, in what it has, rejoicing. (23:51-53)

14. • The first split was resulted in the conflict for
leadership after the prophet’s death.
• The Muslims was divided into two sects: a sect
believed that the leader for Muslim nation should
be from his household (family), and another sect
does not agree about that.
• The first sect is called “Shia”, and the other sect is
called “Sunni”.
• This split started more political than theological,
but over time theological differences have
developed.

15. • The second split started when some Muslims tried to interpret the
Quran.
• The Muslims was divided into two schools of thoughts:
 The school of thoughts that refuses any interpretation of the
Quran is called “Salfi” (predecessors). They understand Quran
literally (outward aspects its apparent meaning), and they explain
its meanings linguistically using another portion of the Quran, or
sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, or saying of his companions.
 On the other hand, the school of thoughts that tried to interpret the
Quran was divided into 2 different schools of thoughts:
o“Mu'tazila” who interprets the Quran based on reason and
rational thought,
oand “Sufi” (Mystical) who interprets the Quran based on inner
esoteric.

16. Schools of Islamic theology
They refuses any interpretation of Quran They tried to
interpret the Quran
They understand Quran literally (outward
aspects its apparent meaning), and they
explain its meanings of linguistically using
another portion of the Quran, or sayings of
the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, or saying of
the Companions.
based on
reason and
rational
thought
based on
inner
esoteric
Salfi Mu'tazila Sufi

17. • Of course, each split started very shallow, and
then went deeper, because each sect and school
of thought goes farther and extreme in their
opinions.

18. The Third Reason
• the Muslims civilization’s stage now is in very
low and down level... the aging level; because
it is frozen for 8 centuries now. But Islam is a
religion whose dogmas can be proven by
reasoning. That is why the Quran reproved the
slavish imitation of tradition, and encourage us
to think; because the reason is the way for the
faith in Islam.

19. ُ َّ‫اّلل‬ َ‫ل‬َ‫نز‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ع‬ِ‫ب‬َّ‫ت‬‫ا‬ ُ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫ل‬‫ي‬ِ‫ق‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ذ‬ِ‫إ‬ َ‫و‬َ‫ف‬ْ‫ل‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ ُ‫ع‬ِ‫ب‬َّ‫ت‬َ‫ن‬ ْ‫ل‬َ‫ب‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫ا‬َ‫ق‬ۗ ‫َا‬‫ن‬َ‫ء‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬‫آ‬ ِ‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫ي‬
ً‫ئ‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ش‬ َ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬ِ‫ق‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬ُ‫ؤ‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬‫آ‬ َ‫ان‬َ‫ك‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫و‬َ‫أ‬َ‫ُون‬‫د‬َ‫ت‬ْ‫ه‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬.َّ‫ال‬ ُ‫ل‬َ‫ث‬َ‫م‬ َ‫و‬‫وا‬ُ‫ر‬َ‫ف‬َ‫ك‬ َ‫ين‬ِ‫ذ‬
ِ‫إ‬ ُ‫ع‬َ‫م‬ْ‫س‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ُ‫ق‬ِ‫ع‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ذ‬َّ‫ال‬ ِ‫ل‬َ‫ث‬َ‫م‬َ‫ك‬ْ‫ك‬ُ‫ب‬ ٌّ‫م‬ُ‫ص‬ ۚ ً‫ء‬‫ا‬َ‫د‬ِ‫ن‬ َ‫و‬ ً‫ء‬‫ا‬َ‫ع‬ُ‫د‬ َّ‫َل‬َ‫َل‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬َ‫ف‬ ٌ‫ي‬ْ‫م‬ُ‫ع‬ ٌ‫م‬
َ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬ِ‫ق‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ي‬
And when it is said to them, "Follow what God has
revealed," they say, "Rather, we will follow that
which we found our fathers doing." Even though
their fathers did not have any sense, nor were they
guided? The example of those who disbelieve is
like that of one who shouts at what hears nothing
but calls and cries cattle or sheep - deaf, dumb and
blind, so they have no sense. (2:170-171)

20. • Also, the God asked Muslims in the Quran to
think about his creations (the human body, the
nature …etc) to find the laws that God set up
for them. This law is what we called “science”.

21. ْ‫اخ‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ض‬ ْ‫ر‬َ ْ‫اْل‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ت‬‫ا‬ َ‫او‬َ‫م‬َّ‫س‬‫ال‬ ِ‫ق‬ْ‫َل‬‫خ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ِ‫ار‬َ‫ه‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ َ‫و‬ ِ‫ل‬ْ‫ي‬َّ‫الل‬ ِ‫ف‬ َ‫َل‬ِ‫ت‬‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬َّ‫ال‬ ِ‫ك‬ْ‫ل‬ُ‫ف‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫و‬
َ‫و‬ َ‫اس‬َّ‫ن‬‫ال‬ ُ‫ع‬َ‫ف‬‫ن‬َ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ِ‫ب‬ ِ‫ر‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ال‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ ‫ي‬ ِ‫ر‬ْ‫ج‬َ‫ت‬ِ‫اء‬َ‫م‬َّ‫س‬‫ال‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ُ َّ‫اّلل‬ َ‫ل‬َ‫نز‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ا‬َ‫م‬ٍ‫اء‬َّ‫م‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬
َّ‫ث‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫و‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬ِ‫ت‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫م‬ َ‫د‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ب‬ َ‫ض‬ ْ‫ر‬َ ْ‫اْل‬ ِ‫ه‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫أ‬َ‫ف‬َ‫ت‬ َ‫و‬ ٍ‫ة‬َّ‫ب‬‫ا‬َ‫د‬ ِ‫ل‬ُ‫ك‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ا‬َ‫ه‬‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ِ‫اح‬َ‫ي‬ ِ‫الر‬ ِ‫يف‬ ِ‫ر‬ْ‫ص‬
َ‫و‬ ِ‫اء‬َ‫م‬َّ‫س‬‫ال‬ َ‫ْن‬‫ي‬َ‫ب‬ ِ‫ر‬َّ‫خ‬َ‫س‬ُ‫م‬ْ‫ال‬ ِ‫ب‬‫ا‬َ‫ح‬َّ‫س‬‫ال‬ َ‫و‬ْ‫ع‬َ‫ي‬ ٍ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫ق‬ِ‫ل‬ ٍ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ي‬ َ‫َل‬ ِ‫ض‬ ْ‫ر‬َ ْ‫اْل‬َ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬ِ‫ق‬
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and
the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great]
ships which sail through the sea with that which
benefits people, and what God has sent down from the
heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its
lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of]
moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and
the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth
are signs for a people who use reason. (2:164)

22. • We see different Muslims sects called each other disbelievers,
kill each other, and bomb each other’s mosques, even though the
prophet Muhammad said:
‫وسل‬ ‫عليه‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫صلى‬ ‫النبي‬ ‫أن‬ ‫عنه‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫رضي‬ ‫الثقفى‬ ‫الحارث‬ ‫بن‬ ‫نفيع‬ ‫بكرة‬ ‫أبي‬ ‫وعن‬‫م‬
‫قال‬:"‫النار‬ ‫في‬ ‫والمقتول‬ ‫فالقاتل‬ ‫بسيفيهما‬ ‫المسلمان‬ ‫التقى‬ ‫إذ‬"‫هذا‬ ،‫هللا‬ ‫يارسول‬ ‫قلت‬‫القاتل‬
‫المقتول‬ ‫بال‬ ‫فما‬‫؟‬‫قال‬:"‫صاحبه‬ ‫قتل‬ ‫على‬ ً‫ا‬‫حريص‬ ‫كان‬ ‫إنه‬".
Abu Bakrah Ath-Thaqafi (May God be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet said: "If two Muslims meet each other with their
swords then (both) the killer and the killed one are in the (Hell)
Fire." I said, "O Allah's Messenger! it is alright for the killer, but
what about the killed one?" He said, "The killed one was eager to
kill his opponent." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 83, Hadith
14)

23. • We see a Muslim group kill people because
they refused to convert to Islam, even though
the Quran said:
َ‫َل‬ْ‫ش‬ُّ‫الر‬ َ‫َّن‬‫ي‬َ‫ب‬َّ‫ت‬ ‫د‬َ‫ق‬ ۖ ِ‫ين‬ِ‫الد‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ َ‫ه‬‫ا‬َ‫ر‬ْ‫ك‬ِ‫إ‬ِ‫َي‬‫غ‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ُ‫د‬
There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the
religion. The right course has become clear from the
wrong. (2:256)

24. • Islam has 1500 years history, and there was no
one Islamic terrorist before Osama bin Laden
changed the Jihad to be terrorism.

25. • Based on all these behaviors, we can tell that Muslims changed
now, and they do not behave in the Islamic manners.
• It is very sad, but true, to say that we –Muslims– are a big
reason behind Islamophobia.
• Our bad behavior makes people hate Islam.
• When people see our bad behaviors they think these are the
behaviors of Islam.
• That is why some of western converters said:
• Also, Imam Muhammad Abduh said in the last century:
“I praised God; because I convert to Islam before I met Muslims.”
“I went to the West and saw Islam, but no Muslims; I got back
to the East and saw Muslims, but not Islam.”

26. • The problem is that each Muslim looks at Islam
through a very small window.
• This window could be his personality, his sect, his
school of thought, his era, or the stage of his
civilization.
• That is why we need to judge Muslims by Islam,
not to judge Islam by Muslims.
• We need to follow Islam not Muslims.
• But what if we cannot understand the Quran or
the prophet’s traditions? Cannot we depend on the
scholars’

27. • But what if we cannot understand the Quran or the
prophet’s traditions? Cannot we depend on the scholars’
explanations?
• Of course we need their opinions to understand our
religion.
• But we do not accept any opinion of any scholar
without a proof from the Quran or the prophet’s
traditions.
• But we need to be careful, because some people they
says their opinion, and then say a Quranic verse as a
proof to their opinion.
• But when you think, to find the connection between this
opinion and this verse, you find this verse does actually
not prove this opinion.