This is a lecture given by Yasir Qadhi on 1st June 2026 which is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
In this lecture Dr. Yasir Qadhi, explores the paradox of why intra-faith conflict between different Islamic groups and sects is far more severe and violent than inter-faith conflict between Islam and other religions such as Christianity. I have personally witnessed this myself. One week friends are sitting next to each other in an Islamic talk, joking and smiling, and then the next week they are enemies due to a minor disagreement. Their intense hate for each other is even more severe than against the enemies of Islam who are actually killing and slaughtering Muslims.
These conflicts are not new and have existed since the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphate when the Khawarij broke away from Imam Ali with their slogan, “La hukma illa lillah” (There is no judgment/rule but for Allah). Ali responded to them with the famous phrase:
كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ أُرِيدَ بِهَا بَاطِلٌ
“A word of truth by which is intended falsehood.”
In the 11th century riots broke out in Baghdad between the Hanbalis and Ash’aris after lbn al-Qushayri – a teacher in the Nizamiyya madrasa – accused the Hanbalis of tajsim (anthropomorphism) over their literalist views on the sifat (attributes) of Allah. The Seljuk Wazir Nizam al-Mulk and the Abbasid Wazir Fakhr al-Dawla had to intervene to resolve the dispute.[1]
If we fast forward 1000 years, we witness the same arguments on whether the sifat Allah are literal or metaphorical, even though both sides are in line with tawheed (monotheism). In modern times we have groups, sects and cult-like entities who while espousing unity, revival and a return to the salaf (early generations), leave in their wake a trail of death, destruction, broken families, broken communities, mental illness, and many who when they leave these sects simply give up the religion altogether.
Margaret Singer explains the danger to society from such entities. “A further concern for our society is that cults are diverting some of society’s best minds away from education and rational thought. Numerous individuals are being prevented from contributing to humankind’s welfare through science, medicine, teaching, ecology, and other careers. Instead, they are being lured into cults, where they may end up spending years contributing only to the power and comfort of the cult leader. They lose some of the most important years of their lives, and when they emerge they may be unable to use their former abilities and talents because they will be behind in so many ways.”[2]
In explaining this phenomenon, Yasir Qadhi highlights a number of key psychological and social factors which contribute to this sectarian and fanaticism.
- The Narcissism of Small Differences: Coined by Sigmund Freud, this psychological concept explains that people are most intolerant and defensive when dealing with those who are almost exactly like them. Because rival factions (or differing schools of thought) share 95% of their core beliefs, the remaining 5% of differences become magnified and fiercely debated.
- Perceived Intellectual Threat: A scholar or group that shares your core foundational sources (Quran and Sunnah) but reaches slightly different conclusions is often viewed as more threatening than an outsider. They have the power to influence those who already hold your baseline framework, creating a sense of internal competition.
- The Pursuit of Perfectionism: Within tightly knit communities, there is often an urge to enforce absolute uniformity. When people who are supposed to be “on your side” deviate from your specific ideological, cultural, or political preferences, the cognitive dissonance creates intense friction.
- In-Group Favoritism & Out-Group Derogation: Social psychology demonstrates how humans naturally elevate their immediate circle and demonize those slightly outside it. This results in the “us vs. them” sectarian tribalism that harms the broader Ummah.
Although these factors are part of the fitna of the dunya (tests and tribulations of life) they can be mitigated through mature dialogue, mutual respect, and civil disagreement. By focussing on the shared foundational beliefs of Islam, then the greater good of the community can overcome the sectarian divisions.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said,
مَنْ صَلَّى صَلاَتَنَا، وَاسْتَقْبَلَ قِبْلَتَنَا، وَأَكَلَ ذَبِيحَتَنَا، فَذَلِكَ الْمُسْلِمُ الَّذِي لَهُ ذِمَّةُ اللَّهِ وَذِمَّةُ رَسُولِهِ، فَلاَ تُخْفِرُوا اللَّهَ فِي ذِمَّتِهِ
“Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah’s and His Messenger’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.”[3]
The Qur’an clearly permits and praises cooperation and the establishment of groups.
وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ
“Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness”[7]
Healthy competition is also encouraged.
فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ
“So compete with one another in doing good.”[8]
What is not encouraged and is categorically forbidden is when the differences become a source of hate and division.
Allah ta’ala says,
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌۭ
“And do not be like those who split (تَفَرَّقُوا) ˹into sects˺ and differed (اِخْتَلَفُوا) after clear proofs had come to them. It is they who will suffer a tremendous punishment.”[4]
Ibn Ashur (d.1973) comments on this splitting and division (الاِفْتِراق):
وفِيهِ إشارَةٌ إلى أنَّ الِاخْتِلافَ المَذْمُومَ والَّذِي يُؤَدِّي إلى الِافْتِراقِ، وهو الِاخْتِلافُ في أُصُولِ الدِّيانَةِ الَّذِي يُفْضِي إلى تَكْفِيرِ بَعْضِ الأُمَّةِ بَعْضًا، أوْ تَفْسِيقِهِ، دُونَ الِاخْتِلافِ في الفُرُوعِ المَبْنِيَّةِ عَلى اخْتِلافِ مَصالِحِ الأُمَّةِ في الأقْطارِ والأعْصارِ، وهو المُعَبِّرُ عَنْهُ بِالِاجْتِهادِ. ونَحْنُ إذا تَقَصَّيْنا تارِيخَ المَذاهِبِ الإسْلامِيَّةِ لا نَجِدُ افْتِراقًا نَشَأ بَيْنَ المُسْلِمِينَ إلّا عَنِ اخْتِلافٍ في العَقائِدِ والأُصُولِ، دُونَ الِاخْتِلافِ في الِاجْتِهادِ في فُرُوعِ الشَّرِيعَةِ.
“The reprehensible differences (الِاخْتِلاف) that leads to division (الاِفْتِراق) is the differences in the fundamentals of religion (usul ad-deen) that leads to some members of the ummah declaring others disbelievers (kafir) or transgressors (fasiq), unlike the differences in the branches (furu’) based on the differences in the interests of the ummah in different countries and eras, which is expressed by ijtihad. If we examine the history of Islamic Schools of Thought (madhāhib), we will not find any division that arose among Muslims except due to differences in ‘aqeeda and usul. We only find differences in ijtihad in the branches of Sharia.”[5]
The Prophet ﷺ said,
افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَافْتَرَقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَإِحْدَى وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَتَفْتَرِقَنَّ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَثِنْتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ ” . قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ ” الْجَمَاعَةُ
“The Jews split (اِفْتَرَقَت) into seventy-one sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy in Hell. The Christians split into seventy-two sects, seventy-one of which will be in Hell and one in Paradise. I swear by the One Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, my nation will split into seventy-three sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy-two in Hell.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?” He said: “The main body of the ummah (الْجَمَاعَةُ).”[6]
Notes
[1] Eric J. Hanne, ‘Putting the Caliph in His Place: Power, Authority, and the Late Abbasid Caliphate,’ 2007, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, p.112
[2] Margaret Thaler Singer with Janja Lalich, ‘Cults in our Midst: The Hidden menace in our everyday lives,’ Jossey-Bass, 1996, p.89
[3] Sahih al-Bukhari 391, https://sunnah.com/bukhari:391
[4] Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-i-Iman, ayah 105
[5] https://tafsir.app/ibn-aashoor/3/104
[6] Sunan Ibn Majah 3992, https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3992
[7] Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Ma’ida, ayah 2
[8] Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Baqara, ayah 148
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Islamic Civilization 