Beware of Division and Disagreement
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Likewise, it is obligatory upon us to beware of division, the tearing apart of the word, and the disagreement of hearts; for that leads to failure and abandonment,As Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-Anfal: 46] .
And I see in the scene disagreement, and I see "so-and-so said this" and "so-and-so said that." This person supports this opinion, and this person supports the opposing opinion. This person claims allegiance to this man, and this person claims allegiance to another man, and each of them stands against the other. This is a great danger. What do we have to do with Zayd or 'Amr? We follow the truth wherever it is, and from whatever source it comes. The truth is not restricted to a specific person to the exclusion of another. Perhaps the truth comes from a disbeliever, perhaps it comes from an open sinner, and perhaps the truth is missed by a believing man who makes a mistake. Every person makes mistakes.
You may find it strange that I say: The truth comes from a disbeliever! But it comes from a disbeliever, and it must be accepted,Does not Allah the Exalted say: [Al-A'raf: 28] So Allah the Exalted said: [Al-A'raf: 28] And He did not lie to them in their saying: [Al-A'raf: 28] Because their saying: [Al-A'raf: 28] is true, so Allah invalidated their saying: [Al-A'raf: 28] And He did not invalidate their saying: [Al-A'raf: 28] because it is true, so it must be accepted even if it comes from a disbeliever. And this Jewish man who told the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Allah places the heavens on one finger and the earths on one finger, to the end of the hadith, did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) lie to him?or he said: Do we not accept it from you because you are a Jew? No.
He verified it, and he laughed until his molars were visible, verifying his statement,Then he recited the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Az-Zumar: 67] .
And if this is the reality, then it is obligatory upon us to follow the truth wherever it is, and to take it from whatever source it comes.
So why do we claim allegiance to Zayd or 'Amr and then say: Everything he says is truth and correctness, and everything the other says is falsehood and error. This is absolutely not befitting for a believer. Follow the truth wherever it is, and know that a person may bring much truth and then make one mistake, or bring much error and then be correct once, or his error and his correctness may be equal,And in all three cases, the obligation upon us is: that we take the truth and leave the falsehood. And if we see a mistake from a person and we know his good intention, the obligation is to excuse him, not to disparage him; for disparaging the people of truth is one of the characteristics of hypocrisy. They are those who, when they hold onto a single mistake of the people of faith, build upon it many mistakes, disparage him, and spread his scandal.
As for the believer, if he sees a mistake from a person and he knows of his good intention, he excuses him for his good intention. Not every person who makes a mistake is excused for his mistake; one may make a mistake intentionally. But if we know the man's good intention, and that this is a grave mistake, and every son of Adam makes mistakes, then it is obligatory upon us to excuse him, and not to talk about him and disparage him before people. Then, it is obligatory upon us at another time to contact him,And we say: saying, "You said such-and-such, or you did such-and-such," and then we explain the error. The error may be in our understanding, and what he said may be correct. Or the error may be from him. And if he is of good intention, he will return to the truth, even if he is the greatest of people. Whoever does not humble himself for the truth is arrogant. And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: (No one who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will enter Paradise) .
So it is obligatory upon us, O brothers, that our concern not be "so-and-so said this" and "so-and-so said that," and "so-and-so is right" and "so-and-so is wrong." It is obligatory upon us to follow the truth wherever it is, and to take it from whatever source it comes. And if a mistake issues from a person—and a person is exposed to making mistakes—it is not permissible for us to disparage him for this mistake. Rather, we excuse him before people when we know his good intention, and then we contact him to discuss what we think is an error; for the error may be from us, not from him. Until the community is straight and the word is one, and there is no division or dispute. And you know, may Allah bless you, that when division and tearing apart occur among the community, its prestige vanishes, and it becomes prey to Satan and desire. But if we resolve to be one hand, and to be one heart, and to be as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described in a report that must be implemented: (The believer to the believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other) And with this, our affairs will be completed and our conditions will improve. We ask Allah to complete this for us by His grace and generosity.
and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
وَلا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَAnd I see in the scene disagreement, and I see "so-and-so said this" and "so-and-so said that." This person supports this opinion, and this person supports the opposing opinion. This person claims allegiance to this man, and this person claims allegiance to another man, and each of them stands against the other. This is a great danger. What do we have to do with Zayd or 'Amr? We follow the truth wherever it is, and from whatever source it comes. The truth is not restricted to a specific person to the exclusion of another. Perhaps the truth comes from a disbeliever, perhaps it comes from an open sinner, and perhaps the truth is missed by a believing man who makes a mistake. Every person makes mistakes.
You may find it strange that I say: The truth comes from a disbeliever! But it comes from a disbeliever, and it must be accepted,Does not Allah the Exalted say:
And when they commit an immorality, they say, "We found our fathers doing it, and Allah has ordered us to do it."
وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَا وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَاSay, "Indeed, Allah does not order immorality.
قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِWe found our fathers doing it
وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَاWe found our fathers doing it
وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَاand Allah has ordered us to do it
وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَاWe found our fathers doing it
وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَاHe verified it, and he laughed until his molars were visible, verifying his statement,Then he recited the saying of Allah the Exalted:
They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection
وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعاً قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِAnd if this is the reality, then it is obligatory upon us to follow the truth wherever it is, and to take it from whatever source it comes.
So why do we claim allegiance to Zayd or 'Amr and then say: Everything he says is truth and correctness, and everything the other says is falsehood and error. This is absolutely not befitting for a believer. Follow the truth wherever it is, and know that a person may bring much truth and then make one mistake, or bring much error and then be correct once, or his error and his correctness may be equal,And in all three cases, the obligation upon us is: that we take the truth and leave the falsehood. And if we see a mistake from a person and we know his good intention, the obligation is to excuse him, not to disparage him; for disparaging the people of truth is one of the characteristics of hypocrisy. They are those who, when they hold onto a single mistake of the people of faith, build upon it many mistakes, disparage him, and spread his scandal.
As for the believer, if he sees a mistake from a person and he knows of his good intention, he excuses him for his good intention. Not every person who makes a mistake is excused for his mistake; one may make a mistake intentionally. But if we know the man's good intention, and that this is a grave mistake, and every son of Adam makes mistakes, then it is obligatory upon us to excuse him, and not to talk about him and disparage him before people. Then, it is obligatory upon us at another time to contact him,And we say: saying, "You said such-and-such, or you did such-and-such," and then we explain the error. The error may be in our understanding, and what he said may be correct. Or the error may be from him. And if he is of good intention, he will return to the truth, even if he is the greatest of people. Whoever does not humble himself for the truth is arrogant. And it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: (No one who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance will enter Paradise) .
So it is obligatory upon us, O brothers, that our concern not be "so-and-so said this" and "so-and-so said that," and "so-and-so is right" and "so-and-so is wrong." It is obligatory upon us to follow the truth wherever it is, and to take it from whatever source it comes. And if a mistake issues from a person—and a person is exposed to making mistakes—it is not permissible for us to disparage him for this mistake. Rather, we excuse him before people when we know his good intention, and then we contact him to discuss what we think is an error; for the error may be from us, not from him. Until the community is straight and the word is one, and there is no division or dispute. And you know, may Allah bless you, that when division and tearing apart occur among the community, its prestige vanishes, and it becomes prey to Satan and desire. But if we resolve to be one hand, and to be one heart, and to be as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described in a report that must be implemented: (The believer to the believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other) And with this, our affairs will be completed and our conditions will improve. We ask Allah to complete this for us by His grace and generosity.