Hijab has been thoroughly documented on I LOVE HISHMA: onto sects in Islam since people made a big fuss about them on this blog:)

It's been a long time now hasn't it. Sorry life has a way of getting crazy.

But I would totally like to do a new section which is the study of Islamic sects (my personal thoughts interjected so please forgive) and after that, Islamic history AFTER the death of the Prophet Mohamed S.A.W.

I will say what I personally find correct, but I am going to try and find some guest writers to write from the perspectives of other sects, like Shia and Ibadhi, (and other, MORE splinter sects of each of us) as well, since I am SOOOOOOOOOOO tired of people on this blog being mean to me for me believing as I do, and feeling compelled to write what I BELIEVE or know to be correct. So if we all say what why we do what we do, call ourselves as we do, then at least, if we agree to disagree, it isn't in ignorance.

I want to do this because there is huge misunderstandings between us all. And I want the ummah united.

"I truly believe that the names Sunni (of the sunnah) Shia (followers of Ali) [Because Sunni, Shia, and Ibadhi all recognized Ali to be a Calipha at one time] and Ibadhi (Obedient to the Will of Allah) should apply aptly to ALL Muslims. . We SHOULD be these things, regardless of what we call ourselves. We should not be nations or titles, but everything that a Muslim is supposed to be." -Pixie

We *SHOULD* only say "I am a Muslim".

At the same time, I *HATE* when people use hadiths that don't go back to the right time period, or the chains of narration that are broken, or misuse term they don't understand, or the narrator was historically known to be a liar, or the historian had a political bias.

SO ACCADEMICALLY TERMS MUST EXIST. But let us explore them and their origins, and impact TOGETHER, as a Muslim ummah that desires knowledge of it beginnings, to determine its course.

So this new section of I LOVE HISHMA will begin (albeit slowly) with me, Pixie, saying, "I am a Muslim". This is what I am saying from a purely Islamic standpoint. I acknowledge that other Muslim bloggers with different historical understandings than me, through THEIR understandings, are also Muslims, though ACCADEMICALLY, on this point I *might* sometimes disagree, and they with me.

Can we do this together, all with the greatest respect to eachother? Do we have the will to see things from a different perspective to perhaps see where maybe we had some bias or misinformation, or misunderstanding as to other's intentions?

I am certainly not asking anyone to be threatened to conform to my way of seeing the world. But I want to know what you see and how you see it, expressing at the same time, what I do, where something makes sense, or where something contradicts what I know.

So if ya'll approve... We can start in the next few days inshaAllah :)

My shia sistas, I'll probably need your help for your perspective, since I am kinda far off from yours on a few basic things, so if ya'll don't mind for the benefit of others, sharing why you believe something and why you do things:) [At the same time not being offended if I don't post a hadith of yours (goes for Sunni and Ibadhi too!) that I believe is not sahih since I have to use what I consider ACCADEMIC historical authentication which I studied in univeristy.] So please, if I ask for help, please do, and without offense. I am actually not hating on anybody, though I have been told my writing tone can be harsh. I am very against discrimination and "ya'll are not Muslims" antics. Wallah, lol.

K, that's all for now. Let me know your thoughts.

Ammendment: I want to stress, after reading Nida's most excellent post that I HIGHLY recommend for my readers if any of you remain after my long absences;) http://theidealmuslimah.blogspot.com/2010/12/progressivism-humanism-and-islam.html, I do believe that there is only ONE Islam. I do not possibly think that all sects can possibly correct. But I personally need knowledge of them, and my own, to determine if I am indeed "Just a Muslim" or if I am following something less than what the Prophet Mohamed Sallahu alahi wa salaam was upon.

To quote Nida in short (and the Qu'ran) :D in case you're to lazy to follow the link:

“Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.” (45:18)

“And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying.” (6:116)

And from these, and many other verses like it, God tells us that most of these interpretations are false. Additionally, He tells us that there is only one siraat al mustaqeem.

“Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.” (2:113)

“Progressive Islam” would like to have us believe that we can all live in our own truth – that all those wild interpretations out there are all Islam. But this cannot be. Allah revealed one religion to the prophet(s). Islam is one, while interpretations are many. Let’s be careful not to conflate the two.

-from Nida, author of the blog, "Ideal Muslimah"