# Why do scholars avoid showing unity across Barelvi, Deobandi and Salafi lines?

*A scholars' messaging group and the refused group photo: 'our followers are not mature enough'*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/v-1hd1uambm/s/4/
- Date: 2020-10-20 · Kind: discussion · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Why people run from the Bukhari debate? | Mufti Abu Layth (10:33–13:07)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-1HD1uAMBM&t=633s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/v-1hd1uambm/

**Topics:** Cults, clergy and religious abuse; Sects, sectarianism and takfir; Guest conversations

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Scholars from different sects who met privately refused even a group photo, saying their followers were not mature enough to see it. Mufti Abu Layth says this shows preachers feeding their followers' expectations out of fear of being disowned.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth recalls that years ago, before Monday Nights with Mufti and when his views were still developing, he was on a messaging platform of UK shaykhs [?] of various orientations which held meetings, and that he attended one although people there disliked him. He describes the shaykhs eating, talking and praying together, massaging each other's egos, which he says is fine, and taking individual photos, and says he suggested a group photo of all of them, even without him. The organisers and several of those present refused, saying their followings were not mature enough yet and not ready to see it; he says he objected that this was a perfect chance to show unity, with Barelvi, Deobandi and Salafi scholars in one room, including a Barelvi scholar he says he respects a lot, but that apart from the Barelvis the others declined. He concludes that this is the problem: scholars feed their followers' expectations because they fear their congregation will disown them. He then thanks the guest for the conversation and signs off.

## Sources and names cited

- Barelvi
- Deobandi
- Salafi

## Transcript (machine tier, 10:33–13:07)

[10:13] years ago yeah i was on uh this kind of platform about it was called something like uh multaka or something as a whatsapp platform i think it still exists but they used to this is years back when it probably now it's much bigger but at that time it had maybe 50 people on there but he had all these shirts on the you know these sheikh haitham had that from the uk uh uh he's a selfie as you know he had um what's his name

[10:53] they had all these other people on the you know they had a meeting they would hold these meetings i went to the meeting because i was on there as well obviously they hated people hated me on there but at that time because i never had monday nights with mufti my views maybe all my views weren't known and my views were still developing but these when we were at this place and it's got loads of these duds and all these people on there they're all friends they're all you know eating together out there talking together pray together massaging each other's egos which is fine which is fine taking photos individually yeah

[11:32] i said to them sure i said how about you know such and such or whoever they were that organized it takes a group photo of you guys of you guys even if you don't want me takes a photo of you guys and she's sick ah no no no no no no they go and i said but i don't understand why even sharza zahir all these people they said no no no no no no why why why not they said oh because you know our followings are not that mature yet they're not i said but isn't this your show unity you know you've got abril you had like uh maulana ghul there from

[12:11] uh representing the brilliant who i respect a lot by the way and you had so you had uh brilliant you had diobandi you had salafi you had these other i said this is a perfect example to show unity and they not so much the braves they they were fine the others share them i remember him being very vocal no no no no we can't do that mufti mangera saying saying no no no we can't do this because our followers can't see this yet ready for it they're not mature enough but this is the problem isn't it that you're just feeding because you're afraid

[12:49] that your congregation are gonna you know disown you yeah but yeah i've i've gone on for a while right ahmad this been an absolute pleasure man evening wherever you are right people

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment v-1HD1uAMBM/s/4. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/v-1hd1uambm/s/4/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.