What is the difference between permissible organization, arrangement, and guidance, and factionalism?
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The Shaykh : As for what is called organization today:
Organization has two forms. There is no doubt that any work intended to be beneficial requires organization. For example, lessons delivered in some schools or universities are organized; if that were not the case, education would become chaotic. There is no objection to this type of organization as it exists in the present age, just as it was in the past when there were scholarly circles in every mosque in the lands. I personally witnessed the largest mosque in Syria, known as the Umayyad Mosque, the Mosque of the Banu Umayyah. I saw multiple circles there in the morning and evening: one studying tafsir, another studying Hanafi fiqh, and another studying Shafi'i fiqh, even though there was only one lesson per week on the Prophetic hadith, and so on. But today, the mosques have become empty and desolate.
In the hadith narrated by Muslim from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas:Sunan Ibn Majah 3987Hasan (Darussalam) In another narration, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said in response to their question, "Who are the strangers?" He (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) said: And in the other narration, in response to a similar question, he said: Excuse me, this narration was mentioned earlier: .
In the other narration, he (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 170Isnād Da'īf Jiddan (Zubair `Aliza'i), Mishkat al-Masabih 170Isnād Da'īf Jiddan (Zubair `Aliza'i): These are the true strangers in this time. Why?
Because they live among Muslim people who are like them, but they follow thousands of religious innovations. Even some righteous people who are pleased to learn the authentic Sunnah cannot find among them anyone to guide them, teach them, or direct them to the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
The point is that such organization for teaching people and guiding them to correct knowledge is a matter that does not require much clarification.
As for organization in the sense of grouping people into factions and parties that oppose and hate one another, increasing their division and disagreement, this is an organization that is better called destruction rather than organization. This is an organization that is not permissible for Muslims to pursue today, because it leads to their division increasing upon their division, and their separation increasing upon their separation. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:[Ar-Rum 30:31-32].
Perhaps turning off these lights is a sign, or the situation itself is saying: Enough for you, or enough for you all. What do you see?
Organization has two forms. There is no doubt that any work intended to be beneficial requires organization. For example, lessons delivered in some schools or universities are organized; if that were not the case, education would become chaotic. There is no objection to this type of organization as it exists in the present age, just as it was in the past when there were scholarly circles in every mosque in the lands. I personally witnessed the largest mosque in Syria, known as the Umayyad Mosque, the Mosque of the Banu Umayyah. I saw multiple circles there in the morning and evening: one studying tafsir, another studying Hanafi fiqh, and another studying Shafi'i fiqh, even though there was only one lesson per week on the Prophetic hadith, and so on. But today, the mosques have become empty and desolate.
In the hadith narrated by Muslim from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas:
Islam began as something strange and will go back to being strange, so glad tidings to the strangers.
إن الإسلام بدأ غريباً وسيعود غريباً فطُوبى للغرباءThey are a few righteous people among many people, of whom more disobey them than obey them
هم ناس قليلون صالحون بين ناس كثيرين من يعصيهم أكثر ممن يطيعهمThey are those
هم الذينThey are a few righteous people among many people, of whom more disobey them than obey them
هم ناس قليلون صالحون بين ناس كثيرين من يعصيهم أكثر ممن يطيعهمIn the other narration, he (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) said:
they will set right the corruptions caused in my sunna by people after my death
هم الذين يُصلحون ما أفسد الناس من سنتي من بعديthey will set right the corruptions caused in my sunna by people after my death
هم الذين يُصلحون ما أفسد الناس من سنتي من بعديBecause they live among Muslim people who are like them, but they follow thousands of religious innovations. Even some righteous people who are pleased to learn the authentic Sunnah cannot find among them anyone to guide them, teach them, or direct them to the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
The point is that such organization for teaching people and guiding them to correct knowledge is a matter that does not require much clarification.
As for organization in the sense of grouping people into factions and parties that oppose and hate one another, increasing their division and disagreement, this is an organization that is better called destruction rather than organization. This is an organization that is not permissible for Muslims to pursue today, because it leads to their division increasing upon their division, and their separation increasing upon their separation. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
and do not be of those who associate others with Allah (32) [Or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing in what it has.
ولا تكونوا من المشركين * من الذين فرقوا دينهم وكانوا شيعًا كل حزبٍ بما لديهم فرحونPerhaps turning off these lights is a sign, or the situation itself is saying: Enough for you, or enough for you all. What do you see?