Throughout history, sects have emerged alongside political and cultural developments, and over time these interpretations have come to be perceived as if they were the primary source of religion itself. However, the true source of Islam is the Qur'an. The Qur'an, which is the revelation of Allah, clearly defines what is lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram) and commands Muslims to worship only Allah and to fully submit to His rulings. Nevertheless, the sects that arose over time have introduced different interpretations to these divine measures, and eventually these interpretations have overshadowed the rulings of the Qur'an. This situation is not merely a difference of opinion; it also signifies a violation of the boundaries set by the Qur'an.
In the Qur'an, the authority to determine what is lawful and unlawful belongs solely to Allah. As stated in Surah Al-Ma'idah, verse 87:
> “O you who believe! Do not forbid the good and lawful things which Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.” (Ma'idah, 87)
This verse clearly demonstrates that declaring something unlawful which Allah has made lawful is a grave sin. A person who acts contrary to Allah’s rulings, even unknowingly, effectively objects to Him. Such behavior can lead an individual into the danger of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
The Qur'an explicitly states that seafood is lawful:
> “Lawful to you is the pursuit of water game and its use for food—for the benefit of yourselves and travelers. But forbidden to you is the game of the land as long as you are in the state of ihram. And fear Allah, to whom you will be gathered.” (Ma'idah, 96)
In this verse, Allah has made all sea creatures lawful. However, sects have offered differing interpretations of this ruling:
- Maliki School: The Maliki school does not make any exceptions and considers all sea animals lawful. This approach is consistent with the clear statement of the Qur'an.
- Hanbali School: The Hanbali school considers eel to be unlawful, while maintaining a generally permissive stance toward other sea creatures.
- Shafi‘i School: The Shafi‘i school considers animals that live both in water and on land—such as frogs, crabs, and crocodiles—to be unlawful. This interpretation contradicts the Qur'an, which states that sea products are lawful.
- Hanafi School: The Hanafi school considers sea creatures that are not fish to be unlawful. Thus, animals such as mussels, oysters, and lobsters are not regarded as permissible. This also conflicts with the Qur'an, as the verse declares sea animals lawful without imposing such restrictions.
Most of these sectarian interpretations are based on hadiths. However, accepting hadiths as a source alongside the Qur'an contradicts the essence of Islam. It is not correct to declare something unlawful based on other sources when the Qur'an has clearly made it lawful. The Qur'an emphasizes ruling only by what Allah has revealed:
> “Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then it is they who are disbelievers.” (Ma'idah, 44)
“Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then it is they who are wrongdoers.” (Ma'idah, 45)
“Whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed—then it is they who are defiantly disobedient.” (Ma'idah, 47)
These verses show that acting contrary to Allah’s rulings is not only an individual deviation but also a social and religious one. Adopting a ruling that contradicts the Qur'an as if it were an essential part of religion means associating partners with Allah’s authority. This directly falls under the definition of shirk. The sects’ prohibition of seafood that Allah has made lawful is an example of such an attitude.
Initially, sects were based on differences in interpretation (ijtihad). However, over time these differences led to deep divisions among Muslims. The Qur'an states that Muslims are a single الأمة (ummah) and should not fall into division. Yet, sects have gradually turned into “religions within the religion,” becoming systems that divide rather than unite Muslims.
> “And when it is said to them, ‘Follow what Allah has revealed,’ they say, ‘Rather, we follow what we found our forefathers upon.’ Even though their forefathers understood nothing and were not guided?” (Baqarah, 170)
This verse points out the error of blindly following traditional structures. Followers of sects often act with the mindset of “whatever the imam says is absolute,” thereby placing the Qur'an in a secondary position. This prevents individuals from establishing a direct connection with the Qur'an and fosters stagnation and blind imitation in religious understanding.
Over time, sectarian fanaticism has made the words of scholars unquestionable, elevating them almost to the status of “lords.” This contradicts the fundamental principle of Islam, which is worshiping Allah alone:
> “They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary. Yet they were commanded to worship only one God. There is no deity except Him. Exalted is He above whatever they associate with Him.” (Tawbah, 31)
This verse indicates that treating human authorities as absolute truth carries the risk of shirk. According to the Qur'an, absolute authority belongs only to Allah. Human statements must always be evaluated in light of the Qur'an, and anything that contradicts it must be abandoned.
The Qur'an is a sufficient source for Islam. The authority to determine what is lawful and unlawful belongs solely to Allah. The fact that sects present views—especially on issues like seafood—that contradict the Qur'an is a serious error. This is not merely a religious mistake but also an attempt to invalidate Allah’s rulings.
The Qur'an calls Muslims to use their reason and conscience, to question traditional structures, and to submit only to Allah. The division and fanaticism caused by sects harm the essence of Islam and weaken the understanding of unity (tawhid). A truly Islamic stance is only possible through an approach in which the Qur'an is central and Allah’s word is accepted as the sole authority.
