Is the divergence of methodologies in the Ummah today, such as between the Tabligh and the Ikhwan, such that they are all within the people of the Sunnah and the community, or does each of them constitute a sect?
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The questioner : The Shaykh, may Allah reward you. The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Ibn Hibban 62:615 The Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Some people today say that the differences occurring among Muslims now are of this kind, and that they are sects. And some say: No, the difference occurring now is a difference within the sect, that Muslims today are in the seventy-third sect, and the difference revolves within it, so one part does not go beyond the other. What is your opinion, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Our view is that it is not correct. How can those who claim Islam today be one sect, when among them are the Jahmiyyah, the philosophers, the Rafidah, the Isma'ilis, the Nusayris, and the like? How is this?
The questioner : The discussion is about, meaning, the people of the Sunnah in general.
The Shaykh : No, the discussion is about the people of the Qiblah, not the people of the Sunnah. The people of the Sunnah are considered one sect.
The questioner : The Shaykh, may Allah reward you. My question now is about the people of the Sunnah, not the people of the Qiblah, because, O Shaykh, some people today say that those who claim to be from the people of the Sunnah now say: No, he claims to be from the people of the Sunnah, but he is from such-and-such a sect, and that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned about the people of innovation.
The Shaykh : We can no longer [manage] the disagreement. The easy disagreement in some issues may not go beyond agreement, just as the four schools of jurisprudence, for example, have disagreement but do not go beyond agreement. But disagreement in the essence and the foundation, this is an independent disagreement.
The questioner : No, the disagreement in methodologies now, separation is necessary.
The Shaykh : What are the methodologies? Methodologies of education.
The questioner : Groups like the Ikhwan group, the Tabligh group. People say Salafi, and each of them fights the other.
The Shaykh : This is wrong. There is no doubt that it is a division, but it is wrong because these people, meaning, they established a party for themselves such that they support those who are with them and oppose those who differ with them. But disagreement in other issues, such that he does not consider him a friend or an enemy, whenever you see a sect saying this is misguided and it is an enemy to us, they are a sect. This is the criterion.
The questioner : Each of them now says we are the people of the Sunnah...
The Shaykh : It does not contradict this claim. But they are now two sects. This is a claim, because if they had been silent and said: We differ with you in this, but we see that you are right, because this is what your independent legal reasoning led you to, they would not have become divided. But if they say they are misguided and they become hostile to them, hate them, and incite against them, that is a sect.
The questioner : It is obligatory that we unite.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt, it is obligatory that this [be the case]. All the verses and hadiths mentioned by the Shaykh are for this purpose. Yes.
And this Ummah will split into seventy-three sects
وتفترق هذه الأمة على ثلاث وسبعين فرقةThe Shaykh : Our view is that it is not correct. How can those who claim Islam today be one sect, when among them are the Jahmiyyah, the philosophers, the Rafidah, the Isma'ilis, the Nusayris, and the like? How is this?
The questioner : The discussion is about, meaning, the people of the Sunnah in general.
The Shaykh : No, the discussion is about the people of the Qiblah, not the people of the Sunnah. The people of the Sunnah are considered one sect.
The questioner : The Shaykh, may Allah reward you. My question now is about the people of the Sunnah, not the people of the Qiblah, because, O Shaykh, some people today say that those who claim to be from the people of the Sunnah now say: No, he claims to be from the people of the Sunnah, but he is from such-and-such a sect, and that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned about the people of innovation.
The Shaykh : We can no longer [manage] the disagreement. The easy disagreement in some issues may not go beyond agreement, just as the four schools of jurisprudence, for example, have disagreement but do not go beyond agreement. But disagreement in the essence and the foundation, this is an independent disagreement.
The questioner : No, the disagreement in methodologies now, separation is necessary.
The Shaykh : What are the methodologies? Methodologies of education.
The questioner : Groups like the Ikhwan group, the Tabligh group. People say Salafi, and each of them fights the other.
The Shaykh : This is wrong. There is no doubt that it is a division, but it is wrong because these people, meaning, they established a party for themselves such that they support those who are with them and oppose those who differ with them. But disagreement in other issues, such that he does not consider him a friend or an enemy, whenever you see a sect saying this is misguided and it is an enemy to us, they are a sect. This is the criterion.
The questioner : Each of them now says we are the people of the Sunnah...
The Shaykh : It does not contradict this claim. But they are now two sects. This is a claim, because if they had been silent and said: We differ with you in this, but we see that you are right, because this is what your independent legal reasoning led you to, they would not have become divided. But if they say they are misguided and they become hostile to them, hate them, and incite against them, that is a sect.
The questioner : It is obligatory that we unite.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt, it is obligatory that this [be the case]. All the verses and hadiths mentioned by the Shaykh are for this purpose. Yes.