Is what some people say today—that the intention and goal for the common people and others is to say "La ilaha illa Allah" and then we excuse one another for what we differ on—correct?

Al-Halabi : A small question, Shaykh, that gives some clarification regarding the issue

The Shaykh : Please go ahead.
Al-Halabi : which has recurred in the discussion. It is, Shaykh, a word we hear from many of the Muslims who want "La ilaha illa Allah" in the manner you mentioned, warning about its danger and its error, which is "La ilaha illa Allah" in general. So we see that when they warn, or we see that when they see someone warning about an error, whether in creed, whether by word or by deed, or so on, they see them saying: "We cooperate in what we agree upon, and we excuse one another for what we differ on."

The Shaykh : Yes, exactly.
Al-Halabi : So this is a word we hear repeatedly and again. It would be good if you could, in concise terms, from you, Professor, may Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : This is correct. We have heard this word from some of the Islamic callers without a doubt, and it is a word whose first part is from what the Noble Qur'an commands: As for the second word, it is not permissible to take it in its absolute sense; it must be restricted by what the evidence of the wise Shari'ah indicates: "We excuse one another for what we differ on" after we perform mutual advice. And we all know the hadith that Imam Muslim narrated in his Sahih with the wording: So we excuse one another for what we differ on. If we do not restrict it with the obligation of advice, its meaning is that we do not cooperate in good. And those who take this second phrase take it in its absolute sense, in its generality, and in its comprehensiveness. As soon as one of them feels that there is a difference between him and his companion, he avoids the topic and says, "We excuse one another for what we differ on." Where is enjoining good and forbidding evil? Where is the calling to Allah? Where is mutual advice in Allah? Where is love in Allah? All these realities, although they are established Shari'ah realities, have been overwritten by such a phrase that its first speaker said, and we do not know whether he said it on the occasion of this matter. If we had been there, it would have helped us to understand this word, just as our knowledge of the reason for his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) helped us: and Perhaps we would also restrict it and not make it absolute. We were not there, but the practical application of the people who believe in this word made us feel that they understood from it that it is absolute, and this is contrary to Islam. Therefore, we must advise one another, and within the limits of calling with wisdom and good exhortation, we should not conceal from one another a right that one sees and finds a way to call to it in the name of what? We want to preserve unity here. So we return to the general Islam that has no landmarks and no limits, and the calling to such an Islam is of no benefit. Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the first to begin the calling to Allah by saying, "Worship Allah and avoid the taghut." Indeed, this was the calling of every prophet who was on the face of the earth.