Murjea – In the Umayyad era

The promotion of Murjea turned out to be the most effective conspiracy of turning away Muslims from Islam and moving them towards Christianity and Judaism.

          The Umayyad rulers could easily take forward their government if the people inclined towards the Murjea School of thought; because according to their belief, the Umayyad dynasty could commit any mistake or sin and no one had the right to oppose them.

          Another significant point is that the propagation of the ideology of Murjea could not only aid the Umayyad dynasty’s progress, but could also help them utilize the enmity of Mu’awiyah and Abu Sufiyan against Islam and by using the name of Islam and the veil of Murjea, they could distance people from Islam and propel them towards Judaism, Christianity or infidelity.

          This reality has been mentioned by Dr. Hasan Ibrahim Hasan in his book. He writes in ‘Political history of Islam’: The Murjea sect emerged in the second half of the first century under the influence of a set of Christian factors in the capital of the Umayyad rule, Damascus.

The name Murjea: The word Murjea is from ‘Irjaa’ which means delay. This group was named Murjea because they did not give a verdict regarding the sinful Muslims and used to postpone their decision for the day of Judgment and did not punish any Muslim for his sins; but according to the words of ‘Fan Fluton’, the name Murjea is derived from this verse:

(وَآخَرُونَ مُرْجَوْنَ لِأَمْرِ اللّہِ ِامَّا یُعَذِّبُہُمْ وَامَّا یَتُوبُ عَلَییْہِمْ وَاللّہُ عَلِیْم حَکِیْم)

          “(there are) others waiting Allah’s edict: either He shall punish them, or turn to them clemently, and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise”.[1]

Hence, the word Murjea is derived from ‘Irjaa’ which means giving hope,[2] because Murjea used to say that sins will not harm a believer just like good deeds will not benefit an infidel.

          The actual belief of Murjea was that whoever accepts Islam and testifies the oneness of God and the Prophet-hood of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), should not be considered an infidel on committing any sin and his judgment should be left on God.

          ‘Jahm bin Safwan’, one of the leaders of Murjea, exaggerated in this context and assumed that Imaan is just an inner belief and whoever has faith in it, is a Momin or Believer. Even if he utters blasphemy from his tongue without a case of Taqayya and worships idols or inclines towards the religions like Judaism and Christianity in a Muslim city, or worships the Cross, speaks about the trinity  and dies in this state, such a person will be considered Momin near Allah and His friend and the dweller of Paradise.

          Jahm believed that the real Islam and true faith is just one. It is natural that the followers of this religion used to disrespect the obligatory laws of Islam and consider the duties of humans with respect to other humans superior to the obligations recommended by the Quran.

In fact, this group was approved by the Umayyad rulers and was opposed by the Shia and the Khawarij. Although, their beliefs were similar to the Sunnis to an extent, but as ‘Fon Kremer’ says, they had kept some amount of leniency in their beleifs, as they used to say that a believer will not suffer in Hell eternally. Overall, Murjea used to give faith more importance than actions.

          The beliefs of Murjea were in accordance to the Umayyad courtiers and their supporters, as Shia and Khawaraj could not live along with them. Christians and other non-believers gained importance before them and attained high positions. These Christians worked according to their motives and benefits and coordinated with the demands of the time and moved towards the direction which could benefit them.[3]