Recognition of Primary Causes of Muslims’ Divergence and Decline of Islamic Societies

The reason for convergence, and the way divergence took place in Islam are the issues that have as long a background as the history of the religion, especially because, as Koran says, all human beings first formed one nation who came to diverge as a result of their differences. Thus, the prophets were God-appointed to eliminate the causes of division and establish unity among humankind again. Disconnection or connection in each and every society depends on the latter’s thoughts and beliefs. To establish an Islamic and united society first we should seek to reform the thoughts and beliefs of Muslims so as to be able to root out division of beliefs. The present article first explains and analyzes the primary causes of divergence among Muslims during the event of Saqīfah, the rule of the Ūmavīds and regression to the aristocracy of the Age of Ignorance (jāhīlīyyah). Next it examines the root causes of the decline of the Islamic societies with its main analytic focus on: abandonment of Islamic jurisprudence and ījtīhād; syncretism and metamorphosis of religious concepts; divisive theosophical disputes; the infiltration of foreigners’ thoughts.