Understanding through main schools (firaq)

Early Firaq

Emergence of ideas and opinions; 72 groups

Political inclinations groups

Issue: Selection of leader & identity of community in Islam

Khawarij

'khariji' meaning 'went out' or 'seceded'

Over committed with Islam, became naive and rigid

Islam taught them principles and it became mandatory for them to become people of Paradise

Beginning of the development in Muslim identity and community

Doctrines :

  1. Grave sinners = kafir (murtad)
  2. Loose rule on leader; optional

Murji'tes
(those who popstpone)

Believe in postponement (irja') where judgement on grave sinners are left to the hands of God

The actions and sayings of a man does not reflect their faith

However they are excluded from the community

Groups related to human action

Problem
The relationship between Allah's will and man's responsibilities on his actions

Jabariyyah
('Jabr' : to determine)

Qadariyyah
('Qadar' : determination)

  1. Pure : No power of act on man
  2. Moderate : Man has ineffective power

Believe that man is free and is the creator of his actions

Belief in predestination as they promote immature understanding of Qur'anic verse on God's omnipotence

3 sub-groups :

  1. Jahmiyyah
  2. Najjariyyah
  3. Dirariyyah
  1. Good actions are from God, but sins are from man themselves

Opposed the understanding of Jabariyyah as the sins of man should not be attributed to God

  1. A group entrusted (muwakkal) themselves to do (yaqdiruna) everything good through delegation (tafwid), w/o God's help
  1. God has made (ja'alna) the power to act (istita'ah) in them perfect, thus they do not need to do more