What is the Muslim's stance toward Islamic groups?

Question:
Various groups have emerged in the arena of Islamic work: this one is Tablighi, that one is Ikhwan, another is Sufi and Tariqah-based, and so on. Consequently, truth and falsehood have become confused for many Muslims. We hope you will clarify the path that Muslim groups should follow, which is the one that should be adhered to.

Answer:
As the questioner indicated, there are many groups. However, the believer should follow the righteous path, help every group with the truth they possess, and advise them to abandon the falsehood they hold, if he is able to do so. If he is not able, let him be with the one closest to the truth: he should support it, increase its numbers, and guide it so that this group does not perish. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith—the hadith of Hudhayfah—when Hudhayfah asked him at the end of the hadith, after saying: "O Messenger of Allah, we were in ignorance and evil, then Allah brought us this good"—meaning: through you—"Is there any evil after this good?" He said: . Hudhayfah said: "Is there any good after that evil?" He said: . I said: "What is its smoke?" He said: . Hudhayfah said: "Is there any evil after that good?" He said: . I said: "Describe them to us, O Messenger of Allah." He said: . He said: "What do you command me to do, O Messenger of Allah, if I encounter that?" He said: . I said: "What if they have no group?" He said: . It is agreed upon that it is authentic.
This is his command (peace and blessings be upon him) when circumstances change: to stick to the group of Muslims. The group that you see is closest to the truth and closest to guidance, you should stick to it and support it, even if it has deficiencies, even if it has errors. You should help it with what is correct and guide it regarding what is wrong; because it is a group of Muslims, a group from among the Muslims.
However, if it is a disbelieving group: one that calls to falsehood, calls to what contradicts the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and calls to something other than the religion, no, fight it, do not be with it. But as long as it calls to Islam: like the Muslim Brotherhood group, the Ansar al-Sunnah group, the Tablighi groups, or other groups that call to Islam and establish the call to Islam, and say that they are Muslim, then it is obligatory to help them with good, to guide them to the falsehood they possess, and for you and your brothers to be a support for them in good and a support for them in abandoning falsehood. Do not demolish them in their truth and falsehood, but rather demolish the falsehood and raise the truth. Do not be a source of harm to your brothers, opposing them and being harsh with them for some falsehood, while you also have some falsehood yourself. But help them with the truth they possess, and strive for the purity of hearts and the reconciliation between Muslim groups, and with the truth they possess so that they remain firm upon it, and clarify the falsehood they possess so that they abandon it with evidence, with proofs, with understanding, with good manner, and with a good soul, not with violence and harshness. This is how it should be.
So the Muslim Brotherhood has deficiencies, the Tablighi group has deficiencies, the Ansar al-Sunnah group has deficiencies, and so on. No one possesses perfection in all aspects. Therefore, cooperation in good is necessary, patience is necessary, wisdom is necessary, good manner is necessary, broad-mindedness is necessary, and an open chest is necessary. A person should not be narrow-minded and harsh in his speech with his brothers; otherwise, everyone will return to hatred and enmity. No, rather, he should have gentleness and a broad chest, reflection and tolerance, guiding people to good and establishing them upon it, and guiding them to the falsehood they possess and warning them against it with good manner. This is how it should be for you, O believer, and O student, wherever you are: in Egypt, in the Levant, in India, in Pakistan, wherever you are, it is like this, wherever possible, for example: in your country or elsewhere.