Combining the statement that disagreement is evil with the statement that disagreement is mercy
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Question:
How do we reconcile Ibn 'Abbas's statement that disagreement is evil with what is narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the disagreement of his mothers?
Answer:
Mercy? This is not Ibn 'Abbas's statement; this is Ibn Mas'ud's statement. This is Ibn Mas'ud's statement (may Allah be pleased with him): "Disagreement is evil." By disagreement, he means division. The intended meaning of disagreement here is the division of Muslims according to ijtihad-based opinions. If the fatwa in a country is based on one of the opinions of the mujtahids, we adopt it for the sake of unity and do not disagree, as long as it has not become apparent that this opinion contradicts the evidence. If the scholars in this country adopt it and proceed according to it, we adopt it for the sake of unifying the word, because disagreement is a condition.
This is the meaning of Ibn Mas'ud's statement. He said it on the occasion that 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was completing the prayer in Mina. He used to complete the prayer, and the Companions used to pray behind him, including Ibn Mas'ud. Ibn Mas'ud did not hold that the prayer should be completed, but he used to pray behind 'Uthman and complete the prayer behind him. When he was asked about it, he said: "O my brother's son, disagreement is evil; disagreement is evil." This contains evidence that if Muslims are adopting one of the ijtihad-based opinions that has not been shown to contradict the evidence, one should proceed with them and not oppose them for the sake of unifying the word. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
How do we reconcile Ibn 'Abbas's statement that disagreement is evil with what is narrated from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the disagreement of his mothers?
Answer:
Mercy? This is not Ibn 'Abbas's statement; this is Ibn Mas'ud's statement. This is Ibn Mas'ud's statement (may Allah be pleased with him): "Disagreement is evil." By disagreement, he means division. The intended meaning of disagreement here is the division of Muslims according to ijtihad-based opinions. If the fatwa in a country is based on one of the opinions of the mujtahids, we adopt it for the sake of unity and do not disagree, as long as it has not become apparent that this opinion contradicts the evidence. If the scholars in this country adopt it and proceed according to it, we adopt it for the sake of unifying the word, because disagreement is a condition.
This is the meaning of Ibn Mas'ud's statement. He said it on the occasion that 'Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was completing the prayer in Mina. He used to complete the prayer, and the Companions used to pray behind him, including Ibn Mas'ud. Ibn Mas'ud did not hold that the prayer should be completed, but he used to pray behind 'Uthman and complete the prayer behind him. When he was asked about it, he said: "O my brother's son, disagreement is evil; disagreement is evil." This contains evidence that if Muslims are adopting one of the ijtihad-based opinions that has not been shown to contradict the evidence, one should proceed with them and not oppose them for the sake of unifying the word. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-109-ولا تنازعوا فتفشلوا|صالح الفوزان|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (28:01)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.