المعنى الاصطلاحي

Separating from Ahl-us-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah regarding any of the unequivocal principles of religion that are authentically established by definitive text or consensus, whether they are related to beliefs or actions or to the supreme interests of the Muslim nation, such as armed rebellion against the Muslim leaders and their communities.

الشرح المختصر

"Iftirāq" (separation): The Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, informed his nation that they will fall into what the Jews and the Christians have fallen into of iftirāq (dissension) in the religion because of the innovated misguided desires that lead people to follow deviant beliefs and actions that are alien to the religion of Allah. The people of "iftirāq" are the groups and sects who deviated from the way of Ahl-us-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah, separating themselves from the leading scholars of Islam and the general community of Muslims, following a path other than that of the Sunnah and its people and contrary to the way of the righteous predecessors. "Iftirāq" is disagreement in fundamental principles that leads to dissension in the religion or to violating the Sunnah or rebelling against the leaders of the Muslims; or legitimizing armed resistance against them. Examples of the followers of such sects are: the people of argumentation and dispute in religion; scholastic theologians; religious innovators such as the Jahmiyyah, Khawārij, Rāfidah, Mu‘tazilites, Qadariyyah, Murji’ites, Ash‘arites, and others. Differing with Ahl-us-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah regarding a fundamental principle of religion, conflicting with the consensus of the Muslims, going against the congregation of Muslims and their leaders in issues of supreme state interests, and rebelling against the Muslims are all forms of "iftirāq". "Bid‘ah" (religious innovation) is conjoined with dissension just as the Sunnah is conjoined with unity. For this reason, the followers of the Sunnah are called Ahl-us-Sunnah wa al-Jamā‘ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the community [of Muslims]), whereas the followers of "bid‘ah" are called Ahl al-Bid‘ah wa al-Furqah (adherents to innovation and dissension).

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Iftirāq": derived from "iftaraqa", which means disagreement, disunion, differing after previous unity and blending. Opposite: "ijtimā‘" (gathering/union). Other meanings: separation, disparity.

التعريف

Blameworthy splitting into groups with religious differences.