By Justice Markandey Katju
The Quran states '' Those who have divided their religion and become sects, you, O Mohammad, are not associated with them in anything '' (Quran 6: 159).
There are about 2 billion people in the world who call themselves Muslims.
All persons in the world who call themselves Muslims are divided and have become sects, e.g. Sunni and Shia, Deobandi and Barelvi, Wahabi/Salafi and Sufi, those who go to dargahs, and those who regard it idol worship (and sometimes blow them up with bombs).
These sects often have sub-sects, e.g. Shias have 3 main sub-sects viz Twelvers, Zaidiyas, and Ismailis.
In the Indian subcontinent, Muslims are also divided on caste lines, the upper castes (Syeds, Sheikhs, Mughal and Pathans) call themselves 'ashrafs'', and regard themselves superior to other Muslims. Next are the intermediate castes (like OBCs among Hindus) who are called 'ajlafs' (Ansaris, Qureshis, Siddiques, etc). Lowest of all are the 'arzals' who are probably Dalit converts.
So where are the Muslims? I find none. And nor would have the Prophet found any.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India. These are his personal views.)
