Will returning to the truth inevitably lead to a confrontation between the sects?

The questioner : Completing the previous question.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : What truly confuses me is if we assume that there are many sects existing in the Islamic world and there is enthusiasm for returning to Islam from all members of these...

The Shaykh : Correct.

The questioner : ...sects, okay. The problem here is that everyone believes in returning to Islam, but each one returns to the madhhab and to... The result of this may be a type of confrontation between these sects, following the enthusiasm of each one who insists that, by Allah, this is the truth. So the question is: does returning to Islam lead to a type of confrontation between these sects? Is this inevitable as a first stage to reach the Qur'an and the Sunnah or the correct teachings, or what is the action to take?

The Shaykh : Okay, so returning to Islam does this, as you say, and not returning to Islam is better, meaning it is preferable.

The questioner : No, it is not better. I did not say it is better.

The Shaykh : No, I did not say that. I am asking, because your statement is correct. You did not say it, but its implication is that if you imagine that returning to the correct Islam, as we say, will achieve a confrontation between these sects, then the answer to you is: and so not returning to Islam means this confrontation will not be achieved. Will the Muslims be living?

The questioner : The question is about the legitimacy of the confrontation... it is not good. So this confrontation, is it legitimate? Meaning, if it happens, the absence of this Islamic orientation is a bad thing for the Ummah, but the Islamic orientation from these sects, whenever this type of clash occurs, then the clash is acceptable, meaning.

The Shaykh : Okay, but in your opinion, does this clash occur between Muslims in truth?

The questioner : The monotheists, meaning how?

The Shaykh : Meaning, between those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, a clash can occur between them.

The questioner : I do not think it is supposed to be that there is a clash.

The Shaykh : I am not asking whether it is supposed to be or not supposed to be. I say it may occur. Do you want to say: It is impossible for it to occur? It is not a matter of supposed or not supposed. The believers are brothers.

The questioner : I do not think that...

The Shaykh : The believers are brothers, but the problem, my brothers, is that these people are united by the name of Islam, but they are divided by their understanding of Islam. So, is it the name that unites them, or the reality of the name?

The questioner : The second one.

The Shaykh : Okay, so first, we must not be deceived by the number of those who belong to Islam by name. It is not our concern that their number is large. Second, it is our concern that there be a number among them, even if small, who understand Islam with a correct understanding. Because we do not have in the Shari'ah a book or Sunnah that obligates us to gather thousands upon thousands on one creed so that we can be able to confront the states of disbelief. If we today count nine hundred million Muslims, no one expects that all nine hundred million Muslims will become on the correct concept of the Islamic religion. No, but at least there should be, as came in some hadiths, at least twelve thousand as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said. If these are found and they hold fast to Islam in all aspects and they unite upon it in a land of the wide lands of Allah, then at that time the separation will occur. Not between these Muslims and the disbelievers, but it must occur between them and the larger number of those who belong to Islam. And take this example from our reality today. For example, next to you there are millions of Muslims, and yet every day you hear problems from them, not only from the aspect of creed and their distance from the true Islamic Shari'ah, but also from the political aspect. So what does it benefit us that they are Muslims by name, while in reality they are far from Islam, as far as the sky is from the earth, even in... in Islam, which is creed? Therefore, the confrontation, my brother, between the truth and falsehood is the Sunnah of Allah in His earth. And disagreement and conflict between the people of truth and those who oppose them is also the Sunnah of Allah in His earth. And you will not find a change in the Sunnah of Allah. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So we ask Allah to make us from this group.