Appoint efficient leaders to restore Muslim unity'

Mangalore, Mar 10: Lack of unity among Muslims is a byproduct of appointment of undeserving people as leaders and lack of will among followers to obey their leaders, said Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Jama'ee, Salafi scholar.

Speaking after the inauguration of a one-day conference on the theme 'Touheed: For Purity and Forgiveness' in Mangalore organised by South Karnataka Salafi Movement (SKSM), Moulana Jama'ee said that lack of proper leadership as well as lack of will among fellow community members to obey their leaders have hurt Muslim unity and encouraged groupism immensely.

“The basis of unity for Muslims is in following Allah and His messenger (pbuh). Irrespective of whichever Jamaath or faction one comes from, no one disagrees with the fact that they have to follow the 'Kitaab-o-Sunnah' (Quran and Hadith). People also agree that we must interpret the Quran and Sunnah the way companions of the Prophet (pbuh) understood them. But the problem lies in acceptance of leadership. People are not willing to obey the 'Ameers' (leaders). The Prophet (pbuh) stressed on obeying the leader immensely. There is no room for dissent of leadership in Shariah. Look at what is happening in Yemen, Syria and the Arab world. Has the rebellion solved the problem? The more people come forward in disobeying their leader, the more factions will come into force. It is a different matter that the leader will be accountable before Allah and he will be questioned for his deeds and the way he treated the people who were under him”, Moulana Jama'ee said.

Moulana Jama'ee however, also stressed on the need to appoint the right people as leaders. “The Prophet (pbuh) said that appointment of undeserving candidates as leaders is one of the signs of Qiyaamah (doomsday). It is important to ensure that the right people are chosen while appointing  people to important positions. However, irrespective of what the leader does, the followers' duty is to obey their leader and observe 'sabr' (patience)”, he said.

Stating that difference of opinion existed among the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) too, Moulana Jama'ee sought to clarify that those differences of opinion were concerning minor issues. “There was never a conflict between them in matters of 'Aqeedah' (faith)”, he said.