Unity among Muslim is a direct command of Allah.
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;” [Al-Qur’an 3:103]
Although UNITY is Quranic Command
The Glorious Qur’an says:
In this verse Allah (swt) says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.
The Glorious Qur’an says:
There is no organized effort among muslims for bringing unity
/decreasing the mistrust/hatred and jealousy among groups,
the direct command of Allah.
If you see the affairs of muslim groups and their leaders, No one is doing concrete for the unity among ummat e muslima, or even decreasing jealousy and hatred among muslim groups. They must be having in their heart this concern but they are not doing anything on the ground.
Some sporadic/individual efforts are there but there is no organized or systemic effort for this cause.
Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its followers.
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;” [Al-Qur’an 3:103]
There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.
The Glorious Qur’an says:
“As for those who divide Their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no part in them in the least: Their affair is with Allah: He will in the
end tell them the truth of all that they did.” [Al-Qur’an 6:159]
Making sects has not been liked by Quran and Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam
The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to create sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and do not create sects are the People who are on the true path.
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;” [Al-Qur’an 3:103]
Qur’an says call yourselves Muslim
Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 33 says
“Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works righteousness, and says, ‘I am of those Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?’ ”
[Al-Qur’an 41:33]
Muslims are single brotherhood.
Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) states;
إِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
“Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other)” [Al-Anbiyah: 92]
Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu alaihi wasallam) taught us,
المسلم أخ المسلم ، لا يظلمه ولا يخذله ولا يحقره
“The Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, he doesn't oppress him, neither does he hand him over to the enemy, he doesn't disappoint him, nor does he humiliate him.”
Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) states;
هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمينَ
22:78 And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be a witness for you and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer give regular Charity and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to protect and the Best to help!
Any disagreement which exists, is something which can be referred to the divine texts,
فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
4;59 O ye who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves refer it to Allah and His Apostle if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best and most suitable for final determination.
Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) states;
إِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُونِ
“Verily, this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore serve Me (and no other)” [Al-Anbiyah: 92]
Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu alaihi wasallam) taught us,
المسلم أخ المسلم ، لا يظلمه ولا يخذله ولا يحقره
“The Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, he doesn't oppress him, neither does he hand him over to the enemy, he doesn't disappoint him, nor does he humiliate him.”
Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’aala) states;
هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمينَ
22:78 And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Apostle may be a witness for you and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer give regular Charity and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to protect and the Best to help!
Any disagreement which exists, is something which can be referred to the divine texts,
فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ
4;59 O ye who believe! obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves refer it to Allah and His Apostle if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best and most suitable for final determination.
.There are certain differences that are natural and permissible.
Ash-Shafi'i (ra) states in his book Ar-Risalah;
“Disagreement is of two types:
One that is Haram and the other is not.
Everything that Allah established by the definite proof (Hujjah) in His book or clearly stated by His Prophet is Haram to disagree over by the one who knows of it. As for that which can be understood differently or by analogy, since the text can bare it…there is room for [disagreement] unlike in the clearly stated.”
So the “firqah” which are punished in hell fire, are not those groups which have these legitimate differences.
The Sunnah of the Messenger (SalAllahu alaihi wasallam) permitted disagreements in the branches or Furoo.The disagreement that existed among the Sahabah were in the Furoo', not in the Usul (foundations of the Deen). No condemnation was made about such disagreements in the Furoo’.
2) The followers of the Companions (Tabi'een), the generation that followed them, and the scholars of the Salaf (predecessors) accepted the disagreement in the Furoo’ but not in the Usul ud-Deen (foundations of the Deen).
2) The followers of the Companions (Tabi'een), the generation that followed them, and the scholars of the Salaf (predecessors) accepted the disagreement in the Furoo’ but not in the Usul ud-Deen (foundations of the Deen).
3.Subsequently, the great Mujtahideen of Islam differed on many aspects of the Deen, but they were again in the branches and not in basics.
4. The differences among the four Imam are in branches those who follow a particular Madhab, such as the Shafi’i, Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki are not different group rather they are one and Ahle sunnat Waljamaat. And As all the Fuqhah/Muhaddethin/Imams including great four Imams are Salfus Saliheen so All are in one group even if they differed in branches of deen. They are in Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat that is Saved sect.
Below is the commentry from Maariful Quran on the subject by Mufti Shafi Usmani R.A.
If two Islamic Scholar/ group/school of thought stays united in and around the Holy Qur'an and at the same time, continues to accept the explanation and detail coming from the Holy Prophet and Salfussalehin and then, on the basis of God-given natural ability and intellectual quality, expresses differences in opinion about subsidiaries of religion, in which case, this difference will be natural and Islam does not forbid it.
The difference among the blessed Sahaba and their Successors, and among leading juristic authorities was of this nature. It was nothing but this difference that was called a 'mercy' for the community.Difference among the four great Imams are of this category.
However, if these very subsidiary debates will be invested with the status of the mainstream of religion, and differences arising out of them were to become a cause of controversy, confrontation, insult and vilification, then, this too will be considered blameworthy.
May Allah give us taufeeq to be on the path of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and Sahaba and save from fire of the Hell.
And Allah knows the best.
