What is your opinion of the one who says, "Do not divide the Muslim community by speaking about the sects, for the Muslims are one community"? What is the truth and the falsehood in this statement?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Please clarify the truth for us, may Allah reward you with good, regarding the statement of some who engage in da'wah (calling others to Islam) and say, "Do not divide the Muslims by speaking about the Jahmiyyah, the Mu'tazilah, the Asha'irah, the Rafidah, and others, for all Muslims are one and the same." What is the truth and what is the falsehood in this statement? Please inform us, may Allah forgive you, and may you be rewarded.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory that a person does not deny the established reality. The disagreement of the Muslim community regarding creed is an established reality, and there is no doubt about it. Addressing those who differ in creed is of two types:
The first type is addressing them with rebuke, blame, self-reproach, and denial without calling them to the truth. This is not something that should be done, and it is not the way of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions in dealing with those who differ from them. Calling them in this manner—using a style of denial, rebuke, violence, self-reproach, and deception—is not correct.
The second type is calling them to the truth by clarifying the right path in a manner where the caller intends to cure this patient of his illness, just as a doctor intends to cure a patient through treatment. This is obligatory and necessary. However, it is not permissible, absolutely not, for us to show loyalty to every person based on the religious innovation (bid'ah) he holds, even if his innovation is one that entails disbelief. Rather, it is obligatory for us to clarify the truth, clarify the error, and disapprove of the one who persists in it. As for personal da'wah, that has its own circumstances. But our silence regarding innovations and our failure to clarify them is an error. The truth is truth, and it must be proclaimed and made manifest. The falsehood is falsehood, and it must be defeated and clarified so that people do not continue to follow it. Yes.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory that a person does not deny the established reality. The disagreement of the Muslim community regarding creed is an established reality, and there is no doubt about it. Addressing those who differ in creed is of two types:
The first type is addressing them with rebuke, blame, self-reproach, and denial without calling them to the truth. This is not something that should be done, and it is not the way of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions in dealing with those who differ from them. Calling them in this manner—using a style of denial, rebuke, violence, self-reproach, and deception—is not correct.
The second type is calling them to the truth by clarifying the right path in a manner where the caller intends to cure this patient of his illness, just as a doctor intends to cure a patient through treatment. This is obligatory and necessary. However, it is not permissible, absolutely not, for us to show loyalty to every person based on the religious innovation (bid'ah) he holds, even if his innovation is one that entails disbelief. Rather, it is obligatory for us to clarify the truth, clarify the error, and disapprove of the one who persists in it. As for personal da'wah, that has its own circumstances. But our silence regarding innovations and our failure to clarify them is an error. The truth is truth, and it must be proclaimed and made manifest. The falsehood is falsehood, and it must be defeated and clarified so that people do not continue to follow it. Yes.