Fatwa ID: 21821
Title: Qualifications on which Islamic Leadership is chosen
Category: Basic Tenets of Faith (Belief)
Scholar: AMJA Resident Fatwa Committee
Date: 10/14/2012
Question
There are different groups inside the jail (for example, Islamic nation, Assembly of American Muslims, helpers of Allah, the Shiites, and the new Islamic nation). What are the qualifications on which whoever becomes Muslim recently (a new Muslim) can choose his Islamic leadership?
Answer

The basic principle concerning a Muslim is to remain on the Holy Qur`an and Sunnah. A Muslim should accompany the closest individuals and groups to Islam. And to balance between his closeness or farness to these individuals and groups according to their closeness or farness towards the Holy Qur`an and Sunnah.

This requires that the new Muslim in the beginning should seek hard the right Shari`ah`s knowledge and to learn it thorough that he believes, they are the people of knowledge.  Until he will hold with his hands the standard on which individuals and assemblies are based.

Therefore, a Muslim should not preoccupy himself by following different branches of these different assemblies (groups). By doing so, ages are wasted, a scholar is dispersed and entered to fierce battles, however it`s better for him to save and keep his time and life away from.

It is not necessary to adapt an organizational leadership, similar to what happens in these groups and assemblies, if a scholar requires a teacher to learn knowledge and to acquire the right path and guidance from him. As for the basic principle concerning Shari`ah`s studies is to learn it orally and direct lessons.

However it is referable to what grows out of it whether a good benefit or evil. But, he has belonged to some of these groups, it will be dependent to one these matters, the first one, is to choose the closest group to the Holy Qur`an and Sunnah, and the farthest one of the fanaticism of men and mottos.  the second one, is to avoid holding loyalty on the names of these groups and mottos. Because it is considered an odious fanaticism which draws the wrath of Allah and His Messenger.