The Causes for the Non-Establishment of Islam

As for the most significant causes and motives for the non-establishment of Islam since the passing of the Messenger of Allah until now, they are as follows:

1. The Discord Among Muslims

The first cause for the non-establishment of Islam after the Messenger of Allah was the discord among Muslims after him; because after him, they quickly lost their solidarity and—like those who were before them—split into groups, each group becoming attached to its own beliefs and deeds. However, Allah had repeatedly and clearly warned them against this, saying: ﴿وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُوا وَاخْتَلَفُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ ۚ وَأُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾[1]; “And do not be like those who became divided and differed after clear signs had come to them. And for them is a great punishment,” and: ﴿وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ۝ مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا ۖ كُلُّ حِزْبٍ بِمَا لَدَيْهِمْ فَرِحُونَ﴾[2]; “And do not be of polytheists—of those who divided their religion and became different groups, each faction rejoicing in what it had.” However, they forgot Allah’s warning, disobeyed His prohibition, and, after the Messenger of Allah , while he had not yet been buried, differed over his succession. This was the root of all their disagreements after him, which have increasingly persisted to this day. Therefore, this matter is of great importance and worthy of examination, despite the reluctance of some of them to reflect on it.

Historically, according to mutawatir narrations, it is certain that the companions of the Messenger of Allah disagreed over who should hold governance after him; a group of them believed that governance after him was for his Ahl al-Bayt, and another group considered it to belong to others. However, such a disagreement among Muslims is extremely strange and unexpected; because there is absolutely no doubt that governance in Islam belongs to Allah and to no one else. This is regarded as one of the clear and essential principles of Islam;