In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhaab [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said: “Indeed, they (the people of the era of pre-Islaamic ignorance) divided into (sects) in their Religion, as Allaah (The Exalted) stated:

[كُلُّ حِزۡبِۭ بِمَا لَدَيۡہِمۡ فَرِحُونَ – Each sect rejoicing in that which is with it] [Surah Ar-Rum. Aayah 32]

And likewise they were divided in their worldly affairs and they regarded that to be the right thing to do. So Allaah commanded Ijtimaa (unity and agreement) in the Religion, saying:

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحً۬ا وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَا وَصَّيۡنَا بِهِۦۤ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓ‌ۖ أَنۡ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِ‌ۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى ٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ مَا تَدۡعُوهُمۡ إِلَيۡهِ‌ۚ ٱللَّهُ يَجۡتَبِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَہۡدِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ مَن يُنِيبُ

He (Allaah has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which He ordained for Nýh (Noah), and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)), and that which We ordained for Ibrahim (Abraham), Mýsa (Moses) and ‘Iesa (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion) (i.e. various sects in religion). [Surah Ash-Shuraa. Aayah 13]

And He [Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections] said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَہُمۡ وَكَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا لَّسۡتَ مِنۡہُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ‌ۚ

Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you [O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)] have no concern in them in the least. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 159]

And Allaah forbade us (Muslims) from being like them, saying:

[وَلَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَٱخۡتَلَفُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ‌ۚ – And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. [Surah Aal Imran. Aayah 105]

And Allaah forbade us (Muslims) from splitting into (sects) in the Religion, saying:

[وَٱعۡتَصِمُواْ بِحَبۡلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُواْ‌ۚ – And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves] [Surah Aal Imran. Aayah 103]

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al- Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] stated in his explanation of the above statement:

This is the second affair of those affairs which the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was in opposition against the people of Al-Jaahiliyyah; and that is the people of Jaahiliyyah used to be divided in their Religious and worldly (affairs). Their (state of affairs) was characterized with splitting and differing, as He (Alaah) said:

وَلَا تَكُونُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ
مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَهُمۡ وَڪَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا‌ۖ كُلُّ حِزۡبِۭ بِمَا لَدَيۡہِمۡ فَرِحُونَ

And be not of Al-Mushrikun (the polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah). Of those who split up their religion and became sects, [i.e. they invented new things in the religion (Bid’ah), and followed their vain desires], each sect rejoicing in that which is with it. [Surah Ar-Rum. Aayaat 31-32]

This is a characteristic of the people of the era of pre-Islaamic ignorance – amongst the Jews, Christians and idol worshippers. All the religions of the Pre-Islamic era of ignorance were upon this way- divided in their religion, and each of them had a religion they called to. The Christians called to Christianity and the Jews called to Judaism, and each of these two religions belied the religion of the other, as He (Allaah) said:

وَقَالَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيۡسَتِ ٱلۡيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُمۡ يَتۡلُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ مِثۡلَ قَوۡلِهِمۡ‌ۚ

The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); though they both recite the Scripture. Like unto their word, said (the pagans) who know not. [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 113]

The pagans are those ones who do not know, because they neither had a Book nor a religion revealed from the heavens, and they also belied and opposed each another. [فَٱللَّهُ يَحۡكُمُ بَيۡنَهُمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخۡتَلِفُونَ – Allaah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they have been differing] [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 113]

Allaah has made known regarding who is upon truth and who is upon falsehood, and He will reward all according to their actions. Allaah’s Religion is one, as Allaah said: [وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ – And I (Allaah) created not the Jinn and Mankind except that they should worship Me (alone)] [Surah Adh-Dhaariyaat. Aayah 56]

And He (Allaah) said: [يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعۡبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ – O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allaah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Muttaquun (pious)] [Surah Al-Baqarah. Aayah 21]

Allaah’s Religion is one, and it is for all the creation- the Jew, the Christian, the idol worshipper, the Arab and the non Arab. Allaah’s Religion is One (Religion), and that is to worship Him Alone and not ascribe partners with Him in (worship). However, (the people of the era of Pre-Islamic Ignorance) divided their Religion, and each party had a Religion that was in opposition to that of the others. The Jews differed amongst themselves, the Christians differed, and they are upon this differing to this day. Likewise, the Pagan Arabs differed in their Ibaadah (acts of worship)- amongst them were those who worshipped the sun, there were those who worshipped the moon and those who worshipped idols, those who worshipped the Angels and those who worshipped the Awliyaa and the Saaliheen. And amongst them were those who worshipped trees and stones. This was the condition of the (people of the era of Pre-Islamic Ignorance) amongst the Ahlul kitaab (Jews and Christians) and the Ummiyyeen [the illiterates-(i.e. the pagan Arabs-who neither had a Book nor a religion revealed from the heavens)]. They were not united upon a (singular) religion, and were of (various parties); “Every sect rejoicing in that which is with it”.

This is an absolute trial and a punishment- a human being rejoicing in that which he is upon of misguidance. This is the opposite of that which is obligatory and that is the human being is to fear misguidance, deviation and destruction; however, the (people of the era of Pre-Islaamic Ignorance) were upon that which is opposite to this, “Every sect rejoicing in that which is with it”, without examining whether what they were upon is truth or falsehood. What was of importance is that (the path they followed) was the creed of their fathers, forefathers and close relatives, and they did not give importance as to whether it was truth or falsehood.

Therefore, it is punishment when a human being rejoices in falsehood, because when he rejoices in falsehood, he will not be able to escape from it. This is a characteristic of the people of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance and Allaah forbade us from that. He (Allaah) said:

وَلَا تَكُونُواْ مِنَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِڪِينَ
مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَهُمۡ وَڪَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا‌ۖ كُلُّ حِزۡبِۭ بِمَا لَدَيۡہِمۡ فَرِحُونَ

And be not of Al- Mushrikin (the disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, polytheists, idolaters, etc.). Of those who split up their religion (i.e. who left the true Islamic Monotheism), and became sects, [i.e. they invented new things in the religion (Bid’ah), and followed their vain desires].

And He (Allaah) said:

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَرَّقُواْ دِينَہُمۡ وَكَانُواْ شِيَعً۬ا لَّسۡتَ مِنۡہُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ‌ۚ إِنَّمَآ أَمۡرُهُمۡ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُہُم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفۡعَلُونَ

Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects (all kinds of religious sects), you (O Muhammad) have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only with Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do. [Surah Al-An’aam. Aayah 159]

And He (Allaah) revealed to His Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), saying:

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِۦ نُوحً۬ا وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ وَمَا وَصَّيۡنَا بِهِۦۤ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰٓ‌ۖ أَنۡ أَقِيمُواْ ٱلدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُواْ فِيهِ‌ۚ

He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islam) which He ordained for Nuh (Noah), and that which We have inspired in you (O Muhammad ), and that which We ordained for Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and ‘Iesa (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion) (i.e. various sects in religion).

This is what Allaah has legislated, and that is to establish the Religion- the religion of Nuh, Ibraahim, Musa, Isaa and Muhammad (may Allaah’s Peace and Blessings be upon all of them). These (five Messengers) have been mentioned because they are the best of all the Messengers. (They) are the Messengers of firm will – Nuh, Ibraahim, Musa, Isaa and Muhammad. Allaah took the covenant from all the Messengers and in particular from these five. He (Allaah) said: [وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِيثَـٰقَهُمۡ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍ۬ وَإِبۡرَٲهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَ‌ۖ وَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡهُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظً۬ا – And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O Muhammad), and from Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), and ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). We took from them a strong covenant].

The Religion of all the Messengers is one, and that is to worship Allaah (Alone) and not associate partners with Him. This is the Religion of all the Messengers in general and that of the five (Messengers of firm will). Neither differing nor division is accepted (in this), and neither is it that everyone has his own religion nor that every group has its own religion; rather the Religion is One for everyone. It is the Religion of Allaah for all the creation.

[ وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ – And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone)].

The Religion of all the Jinn and humankind must be one (Religion), and that is Tawheed and to single Allaah out in worship. The Messengers have clarified what Ibaadah (worship) is. It (ibaadah) is not (an affair) that is entrusted to the people; rather Books have been sent down to us, and Messengers have been sent to us, saying: “This is the Religion and this is Worship”.

It (worship and Religion) is Tawqeefiyyah (established through the Sharee-ah of Allaah). Religion is Tawqeefiy and it is not a right of the people to legislate religions; rather it is the Right of Allaah, and He is the One Who legislates the Religion. [ أَمۡ لَهُمۡ شُرَڪَـٰٓؤُاْ شَرَعُواْ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱلدِّينِ مَا لَمۡ يَأۡذَنۢ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ – Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed]

This is inkaar (rejection) from Him (Allah, i.e. against those who legislate besides that which Allaah has legislated in religion), because Religion is that which He has legislated and revealed in His Books and upon the tongue of His Messengers. Therefore, (Religion and Worship) is Tawqeefiy. The Messengers are only conveyers from Allaah – convey from Allaah what He has legislated for His servants. This is the job of the Messengers – they are followers of the Religion like others, slaves who worship Allaah with the Religion He has legislated for them and their nations.

And He (Allaah) said: [وَلَا تَكُونُواْ كَٱلَّذِينَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَٱخۡتَلَفُواْ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتُ‌ۚ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ – And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment].

This is a prohibition that we do not become like the people of the era of pre-Islamic ignorance- those who split and differed. And this was not out of ignorance on their part; rather it was due to desires “After the clear proofs had come to them”. They abandoned the clear proofs and followed desires. It was desires that carried them towards splitting, followed their desires as gods besides Allaah. Allaah has not failed to establish the proof against anyone, He has sent the Messengers and revealed the Books:

فَإِمَّا يَأۡتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدً۬ى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

Then whenever there comes to you guidance from me, and whoever follows my guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. But those who disbelieve and belie our Aayaat such are the dwellers of the fire, they shall abide therein forever.

Therefore, Allaah did not leave mankind (just like that) from the time Aadam landed on earth. He did not leave mankind without a Religion and a Prophet; rather He has not ceased sending Messengers in succession to legislate and explain the religion for the people, up until He finalised that with (the sending of Muhammad-sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), whose Religion will never be abrogated until the establishment of the hour, and its support is the Book (i.e. the Qur’an) and the Sunnah.

There has not been a period from the various periods, except that there was a Messenger who came with the Religion (ordained by) Allaah. ”And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them” [35:24] “Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the Messengers [4:165]. And no one has proof to say: “There came unto us no bringer of glad tidings and no warner” [5:19], because Allaah has established the proof against the creation. However, the people of the era of pre-islamic ignorance opposed not that which the Messengers came with out of ignorance, rather it was out of following desires, especially the Jews and the Christians, who were upon knowledge and awareness regarding that. And for that reason Allaah called them Ahlul Kitaab (The People Of The Scripture) from the angle of blame/censure. Indeed, they are People of the Scripture and People of Knowledge, but along with this they opposed the command of Allaah and followed their desires.

Allaah has prohibited this ummah from following this pre-Islamic path and commanded them to hold onto the religion which He revealed to His Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), and it is that (Religion/path) which the sahaabah of the Messenger and the Rightly guided Khulafaa followed. This is the Religion incumbent upon the Ummah to hold onto up until the establishment of the hour. And if the (ummah of Muhammad) differs on any affair, they are to refer it to the Kitaab (Qur’aan) and the Sunnah.

[فَإِن تَنَـٰزَعۡتُمۡ فِى شَىۡءٍ۬ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱلرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۚ – And if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day]

Differing is from human nature, but Allaah has directed us to the Kitaab and the Sunnah when we differ and know not which of us is upon correctness. We are to return to the Kitaab and the sunnah, and then take what the Kitaab and the Sunnah declares to be the truth and abandon what the (the Kitaab and the sunnah) declares to the other than the truth; because our objective is to follow the truth, and not to gain the upper hand through either opinions, exalting forefathers, ancestors or Shuyookh. This is not the concern of the Muslims. The truth is the desired goal of the Muslim and he takes it wherever he finds it. The objective is to (take) the truth, [ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ وَأَحۡسَنُ تَأۡوِيلاً – If you believe in Allaah and the last Day. That is better’ for you than being upon differing. ‘And that is better and more suitable for final determination’ – that is a better end result.

This is from the Mercy of Allaah upon us. He preserved within ourselves that which will stop differing and that which leads to the truth, and that is the Kitaab (The Qur’aan). And for that reason He (subhaanah) said: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allaah”, and that is, “All of you” (should hold onto the Qur’aan), and not just some of you; rather all of you, all the creation and this Ummah (of Muhammad) in particular. “And be not divided among youselves, and remember Allaah’s favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His grace, you became breathen (in Islamic faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, and He saved you from it”. [3:103]

“And you were on the brink of a pit of fire”, (upon the Religion of Pre-Islamic Ignorance) and “He (Allaah) saved you from it”. He saved you through Islaam and this Qur’aan. Therefore, remember Allaah’s Favour. And Holding onto the Rope of Allaah is to hold onto the Kitaab, because the Kitaab is the expansive Book of Allaah, which brings safety to the one who follows it and destruction to the one who slips away from it. This is from that which Allaah has related to us about the condition of the people of the era of pre-Islamic ignorance, that they split up their Religion (i.e. left the true Islamic Monotheism), and became sects, [i.e. they invented new things in the Religion (Bid’ah), and followed their vain desires], each sect rejoicing in that which is with it’ [30:32] Thereafter, Allaah forbade us from that (splitting) and from imitating them in that, and commanded us to hold onto His Book, which (brings) about Safety from splitting, differing and destruction.

There is no safety except through holding onto the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam), “And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allaah, and be not divided among yourselves”, because the people of the pre-islamic era of ignorance were divided in their Religion, as Allaah said, “Every sect rejoicing in that which is with it”. [30:32]

They were pleased with their paths, even when that happened to be falsehood. Likewise, they were divided in relation to managing their worldly affairs, because the one who is (hindered from guidance) in affairs of his Religion will be (hindered from guidance) in affairs of the worldly life. They were divided in the affairs of the worldly life and were not a united body; rather tribes ruled themselves, and each tribe declared lawful the blood and wealth of the other tribe. [An Excerpt from Sharh Masaa’il Al-Jaahiliyyah. pages 32-40]

Can Ahlus Sunnah Cooperate With Ahlul Bidah?

وسُئِلَ الشيخ العلامة صالح بن فوزان الفوزان -حفظه الله-:
سمعتُ في إحدى القنوات الإسلامية من أحد المفكرين أنَّه يقول: من الحكمة التعاون مع الجماعات الإسلامية ضد (العلمانية) وغيرهم فهل هذا الكلام صحيح؟
فأجاب -حفظه الله تعالى-:
«لا؛ ما هو بصحيح! ما نتعاون مع أهل الباطل، ما نتعاون مع الفرق الضالة أبداً. إنما نتعاون مع إخواننا المستقيمين على طاعة الله وعلى المنهج السليم نتعاون معهم، أما المنحرفون والضالون والمخالفون لأهل السنة والجماعة فلا نتعاون معهم لأنَّ هذا تعاونٌ على الإثم والعدوان وتبريرٌ لما هم عليه، نعم. وبعدين ما ينفعوننا.
يقولون: (اللي ما هو على دينك ما يعينك) هذا مَثَل عامي وهو صحيح، (اللي ما هو على دينك ما يعينك)، نعم»

Al-Allaamah Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah protect him] was asked: I heard in one of the Islamic channels from one of the thinkers, saying: “It is from wisdom to cooperate with Islamic groups against (secularism) and others”. Is this speech correct?”

Answer: No this is not correct! We do not cooperate with the people falsehood. We do not cooperate with the misguided sects, rather we cooperate with our brothers who are steadfast upon obedience to Allaah and with them upon the sound methodology. As for those who have deviated from the right path and the misguided ones, and those who oppose Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah, we do not cooperate with them, because this cooperation is tantamount to cooperation upon sin and transgression and a justification of what they are upon. https://video.link/w/cI81d

Read: An Exposition Of The Ikhwāni Principle Of Excusing Differences For The Sake Of Unity: “We excuse one another in that which we differ.” https://abukhadeejah.com/the-principle-of-ikhwan-we-excuse-and-overlook-one-another/

To be continued InShaaAllaah