Thus we see what an amount of differences and discords got...

Thus we see what an amount of differences and discords got their easy way into the Muslim ranks, so much so that serious differences arose even on the basic beliefs as well as their off-shoots. These people went even to the extent of disputing the attributes of Allah: "Has Allah a body and limbs", they asked, "and will He be seen on the Day of Resurrection?

If so, how?"[^2] They also differed even on the holy Qur'an itself and posed questions, like: "Is Qur'an the creation of Allah and no eternal?" or, "Is it ancient and eternal?" They also disputed the position and entity of the holy Prophets and asked: "Arc the Prophets infallible?". They maintained that the holy Prophets were infallible only so far as their conveying of the divine message was concerned, but in other matters, they were liable to commit sins.

Moreover, they held different view regarding holy Prophet's first revelation, saying, "Did the holy Prophet at the time of his first revelation take Gabriel as a devil who wanted to insinuate him and make fun of him?" or, "Did the holy Prophet knew that it was indeed the Trusted Spirit and was revealing and inspiring the Qur'an into his heart?"[^3] They also had divergent views on the issues related to subsidiary commands (of Islam), for instance, "Should a man, performing ablution, wash his feet or wipe them clean; or, a man going to recite the opening chapter (al Fatiha) in the beginning of Prayer commence it with 'Bismilla Hir Rahmanir Rahim' or not or, in the Hajj, the Second circumambulation of the Ka'ba (Tawafun Nisa) was obligatory or not?".[^4] In this way, all the Islamic tenets and the laws underwent bewildering changes.

If we probe into the causes of all these differences and disagreements, we find that discords of this nature were introduced by the machinations of the Caliphs of their times. Political expediency was at work in most of their rulings and findings.[^5] Large groups of stipendiaries did all they could to interpret the Qur'anic verses in a manner that lent support to their 'rulers' wishes[^6].

They also quoted the holy Prophet's hadith with the same objective, with the result that all the orders that were signed by these people became laws and had got to be obeyed by the masses under duress. These laws were supposed to contain the true Islamic spirit.