These religioso's are all crazy. Remember we say namaz to God, NOT to them, so tell all to go take a hike on this one, amongst the million other stupidities they indulge in.

Sects dont have to be together.There will always be disagreements. Its human nature.

Sectarian disagreements are fine. But they should not be an impediment in the bigger picture of praying to God. I wouldn't mind praying in a Church or a meditation room if I had to. I have also prayed in a Bohra Jamaat Khana a few times since its the only available place of prayer nearby.

There is no God out there or here. So it does not matter to God.

Namaz is between a person and God. The religious groups are absolutely crazy. I have never seen so much intolerance anywhere in the Muslim world. We never teach our children to respect other religions and sects but it all was started by the Mullahs to teach our children "ours is better than yours" attitude about other religions. Not surprisingly this intolerance has now spread to sects within Islam. You watch my words it is now going to further spread "namaz behind a person without beard is haram", namaz behind a person wearing trousers is haram", and of course namaz behind a person who says khuda hafiz rather than allah hafiz is not allowed and so on. Just wait and watch. I was once told by a taxi driver in Islamabad that anyone who doesn't have a beard should be killed!. What a laughing stock we (Pakistanis) have become.

So bottom line is .............religion causes more problems than what it solves.

this is wrong concept in your opinion. there is no sects is not involve in your obligatory laws. so first perpared yourself for the religious opinion.dont spread wrong think.

In Haram every sect prays behind a single Imam

Off course any Muslim can pray in any masjid and like Hazrat Omer R.A. showed us, any Church. I utterly rebuke all sects, Shia or Muslim, yet I am happy to offer prayers behind any of their Imam's unlike my driver who misses Juma rather than stand in a Shia mosque.

The essence of namaz is submission to God. What matters is not the imam behind whom you pray but the GOD to whom you pray .The process or procedure is secondary .

If the Imam is a pious and a truly enlightened person, all believers of different sects can offer namaz behind him. It will create a sense of unity.

bus ab yehi dawn ka kaam reh gaya hai jo qasr dosron ne laraney mien chohr dee ab wo yeh pura karien ge. Shabash

Brain washed and ignorant will always end up with a prejudiced mind. There are too many such people around the globe. May Allah have mercy on them

i m a shia muslim and i at times offer jummah with sunni brothres... hoti ni hoti but ma parhta.. better than to miss..

If we will not teach the tolerance for different religions and sects in schools and at home, then unfortunately, our kids and young generation will learn intolerence by people who are not qualified to teach religious teachings. This is a very serious issue and if we don't take this seriously now, this can impact in a worst possible way. One solution is, to have designated slots in schools to teach soft skills, general ettiquitte and emphasise this at home too.

The sects in Islam, specially Pakistan are increasing every day.The reason is very simple - money and power (street power). I have a simple question to all the maulvi sahiban (the prayer leaders) - do you honestly think that you are doing any service to the religeon and Allah? You get paid, given living quarters for that purpose. As far I understand you are doing one of the easiest jobs in the country. If you are so Pious, than why dont you earn an honest hardworking living and than do the IMAMAT. Well our history confirms that even the KHULFA e RASHIDEEN, used to make their ends meet by working in different ways. Than why is that teh followers (staunch ones too) dont follow the examples of the leaders that they claim to follow?? Look around and see the "life Style" of the religeous leaders - they live like LORDS and STILL HAVE TEH GUTS TO CLAIM THAT THEY ARE THE "TRUE" FOLLOWERS Hazrat MUHAMMAD (S.A.W)

@Omair: A sunni-wahabi Imam. Shias don't have much of a choice there. Let me know when you find a sunni-wahabi man praying behind a Shia Imam.

There is no problem to offer namaz behind other sects...But offering namaz behind shia because they taught bad about saabas of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) IS DIFFICULT... EXAMPLE.. Once one of the imam went to meet with other imam along with followers..the imam who is going use to say( ameen) loud after alkhamdu shrif..the other imam says in heart.When they are offering namaz after ALKHAMDU the followers of imam says loud they saay in heart and the followers says in heart says loud in respect of others.. Thats why its not a problem

About namaz

Sajjad and Arish, your intention is good but I doubt it will work. They blindly follow their sect's leaders without knowing what Allah and Rasool is asking from us. And the leaders, if they will listen to God or Rasool they won't be leaders and they are not ready to lose their leadership. Please also try, in your way, quaranic quotes/Haddids. What I am trying to say is that when we will start reading/understanding the Quaran, these leaders will be washed out.

We have turned fiqah into shariah! Fiqah has to be dynamic as the people who did it were extremely learned but still humans, and hence their conclusions are not word of Allah! And even in ollowing the fiqah, we focus on difference which are no really relevant, Quran talks about qayam, ruku and sujjud, not how they are performed. In my view saying nawaz matters, how does not matter and we should say salah behind the imam following any sect.

Well, if we are tolerant with each other within Islam and the outside world then most of our problems will be 'solved'. Learn to accept the differences, its OK to be different but its more important to be respectful and civilized with your one another. Imam Ali (AS) said; "those who have the same religion as you have; they are brothers to you, and those who have religions other than that of yours, they are human beings like you". However, majority of Pakistanis are manipulated by the mullah, who in most cases, is totally unqualified to talk about anything, let alone the religion.

@Khalid: Very well said Khalid. I agree with every word you said. I wish all other muslims can think and should think along those lines only then can we live in harmony with ourselves, our neighbours and our fellow human beings as members of this tiny world.

@Khalid: I spend most of my time in traveling. Fortunately, it is the reason I get to offer namaz in different musjids. Surprisingly, I've never found anyone telling or discussing that our sect is better or we are from the elite group. In fact, couple of time I had a chance to sit with these Tablighis. What I learnt from them was totally different from what we hear about them. They hate to talk about sects. Irrespective of what your beliefs are, they accept you, they sit with you, they eat with you and most of all they call you brother. They even have affection for non-muslims. Wow! Also, I get to see this too, a bearded man with imama on his head and wearing clothes near to sunnah forwarding a man without beard in western outfit to do the imamat. You know just because people like a taxi driver (as you mentioned) said something, it doesn't have to be the actual image of Mullahs. I request everyone to see the world in a positive way. There is more good than we actually know. Yesterday I was sitting with this German in Karachi. He told us (group had few mullahs as well) that after spending couple of weeks here, I'm confused. You people our so different than what we read in our newspapers. You people are loving, caring and most of all educated. He was actually pointing out these Mullah looking men in the room who actually turned out to be PhD's, CFA's, CA's, MBA's and other engineers. So, please we don't have to be harsh about anybody. If you think something is going wrong in our society, then please stand up and make it right instead of talking while holding a cup of tea in your drawing room, because I believe, Azaab unko zaroor milega jo ghalat hain likin start hum se hoga kyu keh hum sirf beth kar batain karte rehge aur ghalat ko sahi na karsakay just because we couldn't get done with our personal desires. Thank You

Salaam un Alekum, I will only answer to valid questions. This is a trick question. Jimmy should stay with simple questions and not try to be smart.

The writers should be careful when they make a false and unfounded statement. According to Sunni Fiqh, when the Aqama is being called for prayer every one has to join to pray behind the Imam. There is a provision of repeating the prayer. If some one has already prayed that prayer with jamat ( any of the five ) the second prayer will be considered as Nafil. If one thinks that The Particular Imam is questionable ( if one knows this man is flawed, drinks or his acts are Un- Islamic ) it recommended that he should repeat his prayers. Today there are people in abundance who should not be leading the prayers, but just to be authenticated in the society they like to known as holy man and love to lead the prayers. As far Shias are concerned the same theory applies. However this is a established thinking that the Imam should be praying hands together and no hands down, acceptable to all. The Shias has no problem. In Middle East and western countries to pray in Sunni masjids. Myself being a Hanafi Sunni I resent the expression Barelvi. This phrase was invented by Salafis and Jamat-e-Islami / Deo Bandis of India and Pakistan. I have prayed all the times in Shia Masjids. It is better to pray than miss it. Muslim is a Muslim and it should be the thinking and practice of all Muslims. Do not listen to Mullahs or dividers.

As Allah is omnipresent, I would say your namaz is valid regardless where ever it is rendered to the All Mighty, as long as you are clear in mind and pure in heart!

its not only in hurram(makkah), its everywhere in the world accept south east asia (very divided). Except Shia and Sunni (all sect of sunnah wal jamaa') prayed behind each others Imam except the green turban muslims from pakistani decendent. I traveled arround the world and met and prayed behind shafi, hanafi, deobandi, and maliki(Imam) they all pray behind each other but this pakistani's going arround the world are the most who start to make there own masjid and seperate and disturbs the unity of community. I started noticed in NY, Chicago, and London. Amazingly, you will notice 4 different masajid in 3km radius. ( Sorry to say this is exactly whats happening as different churches in a neighborhood) But dont quit praying keep going and supporting the masajid, (because truth will shine and falsehood will disappear).

It is not only me put to "Soch" but God Almighty might Himself be thinking because Iam sure He never wanted the situation the way it has turned out..

Frankly i don't believe in all this, from my perspective i think you should have a niyat to offer namaz still if you are in home.. Qabooliyat to Allah ke hath mein hai .. Hamko idhar kiya pata qabooliyat kiya.. But very nice toon for awareness.

Think for whom you are praying ... ?? praying for your Lord ... so let him decide whose prayer He likes. ponder over things like nature ,galaxies the sun and the planets around sun . These are the signs of our lord. He never said in holy book to judge others or reject others... That is why he is creator and v all are his creation.

Then what about all the prayers offered in Macca and Madina. There you don't know who is who.

This difference of sects is not new and instead of finding a solution to the problem jimmy is talking of running away from it. We cannot just abandon the mosques or leave our prayers. Its time to just follow what our heart says is right.

Being different should not be a problem. we all should respect and acknowledge that shias and sunnis are a reality in today's and tomorrow's Pakistan. Imposing the opinions by force should be avoided.

I, sometimes get doubt whether we Pakistanis became mad because of our religion or born with genetic defects.

What nonsense you pray to AllahST,he is the one not the fool infront or besides you.Read your Quran and sunnah

Well......tum nay socha football field may cricket kyun nahi ho sakhti.........tum nay socha har sport may aik he rule kyun nahi apply hotay....tum nay socha dunya kay loog aik he lebas kyun nahi pahentay aur aik taran ka food kyun nahi khatay....... To perform something ,for that matter anything there are certain rules and regulations......we have to have knowledge about it .......so dear blogger it is interesting what you have pointed out but lacks even a tinge of "connaissances "

such an immature episode. there are reasons as to why people pray behind their own. it's not out of the blue. if the imam's aqeedah doesn't match yours, how are you suppose to pray behind him? and about missing namaz, in today's world, you can't miss namaz. that's a poor excuse!

You pray as a Muslim and to God not the Deobandi, Braelvi , Shia etc. No need to categorize yourself . the Prophet was just a Muslim. Khalid

I would always stand with the positives when it comes to the unity between Muslims. I belong to Shia sect and have been very open minded about other sects and their practices over all we are all muslims. My biggest heartache was when i went to offer my prayer, I was standing in the jammat behind the imam with my arms open while everyone else had their arms crossed. After the Prayer i was approached by two men who said "let us show you the correct way to pray". I hope that all our prayers are accepted, you and I are not here to judge each other as we are not supreme being to do that anyways.

Hindus have castes. Muslims are all same or atlease supposed to be.

We Pray for Allah and for his Khooshnodi so does not matter one pray in Baralvi Mosque or Ahele Hadees; Ahele Sunnat ; Imam Bargah or all alone in some parking lot.

@Haider: Have you ever seen a truly enlightened Imam?

its wise & correct. but who is listening! Just a few English educated middle class pakistanis!

I know this is a serious issue, but this video is hilarious. Looking forward to the next episode :)

Wonder people of what sect are named jimmy?!

Lekin 'Jimmy' ne Masjid jaane ka kyon socha? 'Jimmy' tau Islamic naam hi nahi hai. Jimmy ko to Church jana tha. Javed ko Salat ada karna tha. Is Jimmy ripe for conversion or what? Seriously, if all sects start praying together then how will the LeJ, SSP types fulfill their religious obligations? And then, tomorrow you may ask them to include Ahmadias (shock, horror, revulsion) too. Where will all this end, if not in Qyamat?

Hum nay yeh soocha kay 'We muslims can't even live next door to each other in peace without killing each other - namaz though one of the most important things comes way down the order'

@Haider: the cartoon shows the mere lack of knowledge about religious affairs. I wonder if Jimmy was going to say prayer for the first time in his life that he doesn't know where he should go to say his prayer. According to Fiqh its not the problem of being attached to a particular sect. its the problem of adab and rules of saying namaz after Imam. Mostly people in our society used to say prayer behind IMAM but rarely knows what conditions should be met to follow Imam. If you read the rules, you would come to know that Imam and Muqtadee (the one who follows him) should have same neyat and muqtadee should follow the rules of namaz according to Imam. There is very vast and broad categories of each and everything that should be same for Imam and muqtadee . and you can consult a mutaqee alim to get the insight , instead of your personal guessing of the issue .mostly people represent it as the issue of sectism , which is only due to lack of knowledge.

itz upto the Mollana,s those who never let the World(espclY Muslim) to be unite they alwaYs focus(delivered) the things those separate peOple and the biG prblm of us is we hav a blind faith on them MaY God guide Us Ameen...!

Our Holy Prophet had said that Muslims will be divided in 72 different sects. Are you trying to prove Him wrong by uniting.

Jimmy,Muslims are not allowed to think ,analyse or critisize Muslims, UMMAH.They are required to SUBMITT to ALLAH as Slaves,Abd-ALLAH. you are forbidden to start thinking ,then you will cross the boundries and borders,That is Kufer,and you become fodder for the hell fires.

@Omair: Very true, in Haram everyone has to pray behind a one Imam! And I believe Allah has nothing to do sects nor it should make any diff to us as well. I have prayed behind Imam's of various sects keeping in mind that I am offering prayers for Allah not for any sect. In Haram you'll find people of various nations praying in various manners, the objective is to satisfy Allah and fulfill your duty. Allah The One will judge our prayers not any Imam, so I don't think one will be accountable for belonging to a xyz sect as far as the modalities of the prayers are being followed and your heart is pure for Allah...

NAMAZ with jammat you have to offer in any condition ......so for me its not a big deal to offer prayer behind any maslak mullah.....because we offer prayer for ALLAH.....

what a splendid question! i see people praying in masjid's of other sect all the time. just that the shia are a little apprehensive about other sects and access is not open usually to all! if somebody thinks so then they are mistaken and need to grow up more! same to you jimmy!

I don't know anyone named Jimmy in Pakistan. How is he supposed to represent the average man if he doesn't even have an average name?

@Khalid: I wonder those who voted this comment down, what are they thinking. I would like to hear their reasoning and what is their thought. Nabeel

@Khalid: yes and if someone, unfortunately due to lack of understanding of Quran and Hadith which are the most important, diversifies from Prophet's (PBUH) teachings, differences will arise. And it has what happened. Just answer me, a person who thinks Rasul Allah was not a human but a noor of Allah, a person who has issues with Sahabah (RA) and abuse ones like Hazrat Abu bakar and Hazrat Omar, a person who believes that Quran is incomplete and many thinks are missing in it, a person who thinks that the Imam he follows has direct links to either Rasul Allah (SAW) or Allah Himself... What do u have to say to that person? Do reply. I am very much interested.

@Yousuf Ahmad: I have little knowledge of religion. But I agree that Priest, Mullah, Pujari etc hijacking the Religion. There is international network supplying money for their activities. They need to show something they done by using little money. Rest being shared. That's the reason they won't listen to daily masjid/mandir/church goers. They are becoming power centers of their own. By this they are controlling immediate vicinity of followers. But how we overcome them? Do we need to go thro' alien texts to confront them. It is not possible unless we have another source of income to support our family. We are natives of this land before our religion. Solution is hard. We need to gather some knowledge to take up this monsters. We will take on them in our next religious meeting,

@Nabeel Kareem: It has already been reasoned. Mr. Khalid's comments are pretty stereotyped. Please read replies to his comments.

@Yousuf Ahmad: just for the record, a usual imam gets salary around 6-8k per month and he doesn't do just imamat. Ask him. He will tell you his JD. Usko Imamat ke pese nahi miltay. and by the way Issay ziada toh meray nokar ki tankhuwa hai. Itna bhi peeche na paro Yousuf sb.

@sheikh: You wrote: Well......tum nay socha football field may cricket kyun nahi ho sakhti.........tum nay socha har sport may aik he rule kyun nahi apply hotay....tum nay socha dunya kay loog aik he lebas kyun nahi pahentay aur aik taran ka food kyun nahi khatay....... To perform something ,for that matter anything there are certain rules and regulations......we have to have knowledge about it .......so dear blogger it is interesting what you have pointed out but lacks even a tinge of "connaissances " Your argument about having rules for everything is good for the REAL WORLD where we all have to live next to each other. Religions of this world are man made ( pie in the sky ... ) and have done more harm than good. Divided human kind for power and economic gain over the next group. Being born into a particular belief, you just blindly take that faith and become another robot going thru the motions and avoid others who don't share your sect. Let faith be a personal matter. What one should have is spirituality, not be part of some organized religion.