The Causes for Differing and Splitting – Shaykh Abdullah al-Ghudayaan (may Allah have mercy upon him
The Questioner says: We here in Britain have had an increase in disturbance and an increase in Islamic groups and parties here also. Also there are those who call to Jihad and those who call to their (own) path. There are those who make takfeer (1) and those who call to working with the non-muslims and other than this. Also those who call to entering elections and many movements. So what is our stance and position and how do we give dawah and to whom should we give dawah to?
The Answer: The messenger ﷺ said:
“Whoever Allah wants good for He gives him understanding of the religion.”
The individual who wants to speak regarding the religion (sharee’ah) it is a must the he is knowledgeable of that which he (wants to) order with and he (also) must be knowledgeable of that which he wants to prohibit. He must (also) be someone wise (hakeem) in that which he orders with and that he is wise in that which he prohibits. This division which is present is in all places in every country from the (different) countries, is something emanating from ignorance or following of desires. As the messenger ﷺ when he was asked about the save group he said:
“The Jews divided into 71 groups and the Christians divided into 72 groups and this ummah will divide into 73 groups, all of them in the fire except one. They said who is that group and he said: ‘whoever is upon what I and my companions are upon today.’"
An individual will not be upon what the messenger and his companions were upon until he learns knowledge. There is a difference between an individual who is described with knowledge from the angle of reality and from the one who claims knowledge. Just as I mentioned in the beginning of this speech, the splitting is something emanating either from ignorance or following of desires. And therefore Allah is One and the messenger is one and the Quran is one and the religion all of it is one and there is no division in it. So it is obligatory that the affairs which are agreed upon is also what (the people) gather together upon and the affairs which the people differ in, they (should) search (the truth) regarding it. But none searches these affairs except the one who is qualified to do so. The one who is qualified in knowledge which will give him insight for looking into the legislative evidences and with Allah is the success.
1 - Declaring one to be non-muslim
Translated by Abu Anas Atif Hasan