For sometime now, the Ismailis have used the above Ayat (verse of the Quran) to thwart any discourse/discussion with:
a) Ismailis who are questioning their religion;
b) Ex-Ismailis who have turned to the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) (pbuh) and who are naturally interested in the subject of Ismailism v Islam;
c) Concerned Muslims who do not want un-Islamic practices to creep in surreptitiously into the main stream of Islam by the Imam who presents himself to the world as a moderate and progressive voice of Islam!
The above Ayat (verse of the Qur’an) was first quoted by the Imam during one of the visits in Africa - in response to the concern being raised at the number of people who were voicing their dissatisfaction with ‘Ismailism’.
It was meant to be ‘you mind your own religion and we will mind our own religion’. In other words ‘you leave us alone as we leave you alone’.
To be blunt- ‘Mind your own business’.
Unfortunately, it is not as simple as that.
Since the dissatisfaction was raised by the Ismailis, ‘Ismailism’ is their religion too, and so it was/is very much their concern/business and they were/are entitled to examine and challenge the fundamentals of ‘Ismailism’.
Those Ismailis who have voted with their feet and embraced other ‘madhabs’ (schools/sects) within the Muslim Ummah (community/brotherhood), ‘Ismailism’ is also very much their concern. They know from their knowledge that the innovations in ‘Ismailism’ are so significant and extensive that ‘Ismailism’ has very little in common with the traditional Islam – and here it is immaterial whether it is seen against Shia or Sunni doctrine or practices. Their considered view is that the present day ‘Ismailism’ is un-Islamic in essence.
The Ismailis have deviated from the fundamentals of Islam to such a degree that they dare not let other Muslims enter their Jamatkhanas (Ismaili places of worship) during their religious ceremonies! Were they to do so, they would be hard put to explain their ceremonies as having any bearing with those taught and practiced by the Prophet or which the People of the House (Ahl-e-Bait) performed! In fact, “Ismaili” religious ceremonies and acts of worship are lacking in merit so much that neither the Imam, nor any of his family members participate in them! The Imam and his family do not even marry or get buried by traditional ‘Ismaili’ ceremonies!
Muslims, who are keen to maintain purity of faith, are naturally concerned that people should not be misled or that un-Islamic practices creep in or that non-Muslims should hi-jack the Muslim platform for their own personal gain or agenda.
So when a particular group calls itself Muslim, every Muslim is entitled to check out whether they are genuine and it forms their legitimate business. Islam is a religion of all who call themselves Muslims and “Muslim” is one Ummah (Brotherhood).
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