Does permitting multiple congregations open the door to factionalism?

The questioner : Shaykh, you recently permitted the existence of multiple Islamic groups following a single methodology. Shaykh, does this open the door to factionalism?

The Shaykh : Factionalism is not part of that Islamic methodology. I gave

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : Raise your voice.

The questioner : PermittingThe Shaykh : the existence of multiple Islamic groups, does this open the door to following the path of factionalism?

The Shaykh : The answer is no, because I gave a clear and distinct example for this. I said that groups are judged by the same standard as individuals. We said, for instance, so-and-so specializes in tafsir (exegesis), and another in hadith, and you can list as many specializations as you wish in various sciences, whether they are religious or material, industrial, or similar. These specializations are a collective obligation (fard kifayah); if some people fulfill them, the obligation falls off the rest. If we say this about individuals, does it open the door to factionalism? This is a hadith scholar, so he has a group that disputes with the group of the mufassir (expositor), who has his own group, and so on, as we mentioned. Of course, this contradicts Islam. However, all Muslims should benefit from the specialist in tafsir just as they benefit from the specialist in hadith, the jurist, the economist, the politician, and so on. Therefore, what unites them all is benefiting from every specialist without hatred or estrangement, because they are all on a single word of agreement. You heard this statement just now, and we said that this ruling we mentioned regarding individuals—and it is a truth without doubt—is transferred to groups. Now, to clarify the picture of this clustering: currently, a group of individuals has formed a committee in tafsir, a group of those engaged in hadith has formed a committee of hadith scholars, and so on for the remaining specializations. Is this contrary to the Shari'ah or in accordance with it? As long as they all do not deviate from the correct scientific methodology, the Book and the Sunnah, and what the righteous Salaf were upon, is this clear up to here?

The questioner : Our Shaykh...

The Shaykh : Now, if you please, the committees we called committees are usually composed of five, ten, fifteen, or twenty people. Now we expand the circle as much as you can imagine. This committee is composed of thousands of authors, okay? Does the situation differ from individuals in hadith or tafsir, or from the individuals of a committee we named, to thousands of thousands, as long as they all live under one system and one methodology? The answer is: no, what results from this is not the factionalism and clustering you feared, because if factionalism and clustering enter, there is then no difference between associations, committees, and individuals; there is absolutely no difference. It is all contrary to this methodology which we assumed they are all living within. Is this clear now? Let us hear what the doctor wanted to say.
The Doctor : Is this kind of work obligatory upon Muslims?

The Shaykh : It is obligatory.
The Doctor : Alright, praise be to Allah.The Shaykh : It obligates carrying out work in various Islamic aspects in a collective manner, because the state of Islam and the Muslim community do not stand except through these collective activities.

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
The Doctor : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh: Go ahead.