The virtue of the saved sect and the condemnation of division and disagreement.
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The Shaykh : I say, O my brothers, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) left his community upon a clear, white, and pure path. However, this community divided after its Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) into many sects, seventy-three in total, all of which are in the Fire except one. That one is the group that is upon the same path as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. This saved sect is the one that knew the truth and acted upon it, and did not follow their own desires, nor the opinions of those who claim to be scholars, nor the way of those who claim to be awliya (close friends of Allah). Rather, they followed only the path of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), believing in Allah and His Messenger with true faith. This sect is the saved sect until the Hour comes. Among this sect, there is disagreement in matters where independent legal reasoning (ijtihad) is permissible, and yet they are upon the heart of one man; they do not divide, nor do they dispute. I say that this sect can never make the disagreement that exists among them in matters of ijtihad a cause for division.
We find, for example, that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) disagreed in many matters of practical rulings, and sometimes even in matters of creedal knowledge. And yet, they were upon the heart of one man; they did not dispute, nor did they hate one another, nor did they curse one another, nor did they turn away from one another. Rather, they were one community, the opposite of what the later generations were like. You find that if someone disagrees with you on a small matter, compared to what is greater than it, you find that you have something against him in your heart. And we give as an example for this a matter from the practical matters of knowledge that does not reach the level of being a harm to worship or invalidating it.
We find, for example, that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) disagreed in many matters of practical rulings, and sometimes even in matters of creedal knowledge. And yet, they were upon the heart of one man; they did not dispute, nor did they hate one another, nor did they curse one another, nor did they turn away from one another. Rather, they were one community, the opposite of what the later generations were like. You find that if someone disagrees with you on a small matter, compared to what is greater than it, you find that you have something against him in your heart. And we give as an example for this a matter from the practical matters of knowledge that does not reach the level of being a harm to worship or invalidating it.