Relationship between Religion and Politics in Islam — Page 9
The Relationship Between Religion & Politics 9 and Shia Islam and how they interpret the Shariah. Within Shia Islam there are 34 sects whose interpretation of Shariah differs with each other. Again, within Sunni Islam there are at least 34 sects whose interpretation of Shariah differs with each other. There are issues on which no two ulemah of different sects agree—not just superficial issues—even the fundamental ones. You have only to read the Munir Inquiry [Commission] Report1. Justice Munir, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court [of Pakistan], was one of the two judges appointed to investigate into the background rea- sons and the modus operandi of the anti-Ahmadiyya riots in 1953. Who was responsible and who was not? How to Define a Muslim? During the course of the inquiry, Justice Munir pointedly asked every Muslim scholar who appeared before him if he knew of a definition of Islam which could be acceptable by the other sects as well, which could equally apply to everyone and by the help of which we could define, ‘Yes, this is Muslim’, and ‘That is not Muslim’. In the report Justice Munir submits that no two scholars of all the Muslim scholars interrogated, agreed on a single defini- tion of what Islam was. In the case of one particular scholar, he wanted some more time to think over it, and Justice Kayani who was a partner with Justice Munir, had a very peculiar sense of humour. His answer 1. Report of the Court of Inquiry, constituted under Punjab Act II of 1954 to enquire into the Punjab Disturbances of 1953. [Publisher]