CLASS 5
UNITED UMMAH
UNITY
Where strength is more individual, the strength of the Ummah is in its Unity.
Mankind was one nation, believing in Tawheed, and then they differed. Some of them believed and some disbelieved. So Allaah sent the Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, so whoever believes will enter Paradise and whoever disbelieves will enter Hell. The conflict is still going on between belief and disbelief, truth and falsehood, and will continue until Allaah inherits the earth and everyone on it.
Islam is the religion for all of mankind, and Allaah has commanded us to convey it to all people. This can only be achieved if we are strong, and strength is based on faith and unity. Hence Allaah has commanded all the believers to adhere to His religion and to be united, and not to be divided. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur’aan), and be not divided among yourselves” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:103]
Division, differences and disputes are the cause of the ummah’s defeat, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are As-Saabiroon (the patient)” [al-Anfaal 8:46]
Unity and coming together are among the basic principles of Islam, and there are many aspects of unity in Islam, such as One Lord, one Book, one Prophet, one religion, one qiblah, one ummah.
Allaah addresses the ummah as one group in all rulings to indicate that they are one ummah, like one body. There is no difference between them; the commands and prohibitions are addressed to all.
Islam regards all people as equal before the laws of Allaah. Black and white, Arab and non-Arab, male and female, rich and poor – Islam brings them all together and addresses its commands and prohibitions to them all. So whoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger will enter Hell, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): “Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves” [Fussilat 41:46]
BROTHERS & SISTERS IN ISLAM, HOLDING ON TO THE ROPE OF ALLAH
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
“The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever. (Bukhari & Muslim)
“The Believer to the Believer is like a building, one part supporting the other.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
Salah & Hajj are prime examples of the unity and the call of coming together in Islam, everyone rich-poor, young-old, all ethnicities are enjoined to come to Salah and pray in congregation. Similarly for Hajj who ever can afford it are all obliged to do Hajj and are supposed to wear the same type of garment. Imagine millions wearing the same type of garment at the same place, at the same time, what better example can we get of coming together and of unity, no other religion calls for that.
We should all be in conformity and harmony, so that we may become strong, and become an obstacle blocking the way of those who plot against Islaam and its people. Allah ordered unity and forbade splitting. He – the Most High – said:
“Let there arise from amongst you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. It is they who are the successful ones, And do not be like those who differed amongst themselves after the clear proofs had come to them; for them is a painful punishment.” [Soorah Aal-‘lmraan 3:104-105].
“Indeed this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah and I am your Lord, so worship Me alone.” [Soorah al-Anbiyaa 21:92].
“Indeed those who split-up their Religion and become sects, you have no part with them in the least. Their affair is with Allaah who will tell them what they used to do.” [Soorah al-An’aam 6:159].
“And do not be like there who split-up and differed after the clear evidences came to them. For them is a tremendous punishment.” [Soorah Aal-‘lmraan 3:105].
So Islam is the Religion of al-Jamaa’ah, and the Religion of agreement and unity. Splitting is not from the Religion, since the Religion orders that we are a single Jamaa’ah. And it is known that a building and a body are a single cohesive thing, not disunited and fragmented – since if a building splits then it will collapse; and likewise a body, if it splits, then life will be lost. Thus, there must be a unity and we must be a single Jamaa’ah whose foundation is faith in Oneness in terms of worshipping Allah and whose methodology is the da’wah (call) of the Messenger ﷺ.
Allaah – the Most High – said: “And this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths that will separate you from His Path.” [Soorah al-An’aam 6:153].
So we call all of our brothers to unite together, and to fear Allaah with regards to themselves and with regards to the Ummah (nation) of Islaam.
May Allah bless us all who gathered to gain knowledge for His Sake with strength and sabr. May Allah give us all the understanding to help the Ummah to unite and not fall into the traps of Shaitaan and cause hate and separation.
SUNAN THAT STRENGTHENS UNITY
THE 3 INFALLIBLES
Islam doesn’t just urge us to be united it has shown ways to achieve unity. The first and most important of these guidelines is: Clinging to the three infallibles;
Worship Allah Alone: There is no way the Ummah can be united until they come under the shade of Tawheed and they worship Allah alone.
Follow the Sunnah: And then is to follow the Sunnah in its entirety without leaving anything or adding anything to it.
Ijmaa’ of the Pious Predecessors & Adhering to the Jama’: Clinging to that which the Pious Predecessors of this Ummah had Ijmaa’ (agreement) upon and adhering to the Jama’ that follows it.
It is these infallible that determine the correct method of understanding the Religion. It is these infallibles which make up the great usool (fundamentals) that this precious Ummah should be called to gather and unite upon.
Apart from these three core conditions, laid for us to achieve unity there are other advices from the Sunnah that helps achieve unity. Like helping each other, wanting the good for others as you want for yourself, to not spy, to not be jealous, to not harm others, to take everything related to a Muslim brother as sacred all of which makes us mindful of the rights of the people of the society and also guides us to remain untied.
Here we will list some important Sunan that will help us stand united.
Be the Strength of one another
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning) :“Help one another in acts of piety and righteousness. And do not assist each other in acts of sinfulness and transgression. And be aware of Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment” (al-Maaidah:2)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other.” He ﷺ illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
The Hadeeth calls upon unity in the Muslim Community and gives an example of bricks how when they are put together they strengthen each other. Unlike what we are doing now i.e. pulling each other down and being the weakness of each other, it should actually be the other way around, we should be the reason to strengthen the Muslims and the entire ummah.
Being a Good Neighbour
This can be listed amongst the foundations that we should be working on to build unity amongst the Ummah. Once we have a strong bond within our neighborhood we can expand to close by neighborhoods and Masjids. It is sad to see how we have abandoned this important aspect of Islamic teachings. How are we going to achieve unity worldwide if we cannot unite with the brother and sister next door?
The importance of this can be seen in the Ayahs & number of ahadeeth reminding about this.
Allah S.W.T. says: “Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), and those (slaves) whom your right hands possess. Verily, Allah does not like such as are proud and boastful”[an-Nisa’ 4:36].
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Jibreel kept urging me that neighbours should be treated well until I thought he would make them heirs.” [Al-Bukhaari (6015) and Muslim (2625)]
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should do well to his neighbour.” (Muslim)
“The best of companions with Allaah is the one who is best to his companion, and the best of neighbours with Him is the one who is best to his neighbour.”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari in al-Adab al-Mufrad, 115)
Along with the orders to do good we Muslims are also warned against causing our neighbours any sort of harm, be it by annoying them or by treating them badly (this also helps build the relation and unity). He ﷺ said,
“He will not enter Paradise from whose harm his neighbour is not safe.” (Agreed upon.Narrated by Muslim, 64).
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not harm his neighbour.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
May Allah make us take heed of this responsibility bestowed upon us, forgive us the mistakes we have done and give us the Hidayah to be good to our neighbors to be able to unite as an Ummah.
Loving for the Sake of Allah
Another beautiful concept of Islam and the great rewards that come with it, one of it being Unity in this world. For those who do Love one another for the Sake of Allah they have been promised great rewards. The rewards mentioned in the Ahadeeth are: -
A) It’s a sign of completion of Eemaan and makes us taste the Sweetness of Faith
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
“Whoever would like to taste the sweetness of Eeman, then let him love a person – not loving him except for Allaah’s sake. [Ahmad (2/298), al-Haakim (1/3 and 4/168); Isnaad is ‘hasan’]
“There are three characteristics that if a person has them, he will taste the sweetness of Eeman: (amongst them He ﷺ mentioned) “to love another only for the sake of Allaah”. [Bukhaaree, Muslim]
B) Allah Loves them
What all do we do to gain the Love of the people we want, or for worldly desires and we get the Love of the Lord of the Worlds on Loving one another for His Sake. (According to Hadeeth in Sahih Muslim)
C) Will be under the Shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement (Sahih Muslim)
D) Their Positions will be Raised & they will have seats of Light envied by Martyrs & Prophets
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: Allaah, The Mighty and Majestic, says: ‘Those who have mutual love for the sake of My Glory will have pillars (seats) of light and will be envied by the Prophets and martyrs.’ [at-Tirmidhee (2390), Ahmad (5/236-237); isnaad is ‘saheeh’]
SubhaanAllah, imagine yourself sitting on those and seeing the one you loved by you and seeing all the great people around you and having other greats, envy you. SubhaanAllah, something that might not be describable in words but truly Allah has made the Paradise in a way the mind cannot fully comprehend.
May Allah make us amongst those who love unite & each other for His sake.
ADVISES FROM THE SUNNAH THAT PROMOTES BROTHERHOOD AND STRENGTHENS UNITY
Wish for your Brother what you wish for yourself (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Fulfil their Rights over You – Greet, Accept Invitation, Advise, Reply when he says Alhamdulillah after sneezing, visit when sick and follow his funeral when he dies. (Sahih Muslim)
Spreading Salam (Bukhari, Muslim & Abu Dawood)
The Messenger of Allâh ﷺ said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves. (Sahih Muslim)
Guides and reminds each other (Surah Asr & Surah Tawbah)
Always help one another
The Prophet ﷺ said: “One should help his brother whether he is an oppressor or the one being oppressed. If he is an oppressor, forbid him from his oppression and in that way you help him. If he is being oppressed, then come to his aid.” (Sahîh Muslim)
Make sure we do not distress anyone (Abu Dawood)
Make Dua for Each other (Sahih Muslim)
Do not hold grudges past Monday or Thursday. (Sahih Muslim)
Asking forgiveness from the one we wronged by speech or action (Bukhari)
Telling a Brother that you love him for the Sake of Allah (Tirmidhi & Abu Dawood)
Feel the Pain & take action
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever". (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
May Allah (swt) allow us to unite in goodness, love and generosity. May He allow us to enlighten those in desperate need with hope and may He maintain love in the bonds we have within our kinship and brotherhood.
May Allah make us all be brothers and sisters in Islam and give us the Hidayah to stand united for His Sake.
CAUSES OF DIVISIONS & DISUNITY
Forgetting the Goal of Life
Not mentioning the Name of Allah in our Gatherings.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "No people sit in an assembly without mentioning Allah, and without asking Allah for blessings on their Prophet, except that it will be a cause of sorrow upon them. Thus if He (Allah) wishes He will punish them, and if He wishes He will forgive them." (At-Tirmithi).
Abandoning the Sunnah
Following Bidah
Nationalism
Not standing Toe to Toe in Prayer
The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ‘Straighten your rows,’ three times, ‘for by Allaah either you straighten your rows or Allaah will create division among your hearts.’ And I saw men standing shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, ankle to ankle.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood).
Falling to suspicions. Suspicion, one of the biggest weapon of Shaitaan to divide the Ummah. For example, Shaitaan considers sowing the seeds of discord between a husband and wife as one of his greatest achievements. (as mentioned in a hadeeth in Sahih Muslim)
On the other hand, Islam advices Muslims to think positively about each other and not seek each other’s faults which keeps us away from animosity and divisions. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the falsest of speech. Do not seek out one another’s faults; do not spy on one another; do not compete with one another; do not envy one another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from one another. Be, O slaves of Allah, brothers.” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim). Also in another Hadeeth narrated by Muslim the Prophet ﷺ has warned us saying, “It is enough evil for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt.”
May Allah make us look for the good in each other and help us let go of the habit of seeking faults in others and stay united.
DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES IN OPINION
Why are there differences of opinion?
At the time of the Revelation, the Muslims learned the rulings of Islam from the Prophet ﷺ through the verses of the Holy Qur’aan and the ahaadeeth of his Sunnah. Hence there were no differences of opinion among them except with regard to some minor issues. If that happened, the Prophet ﷺ would explain to them what was correct.
When the Prophet ﷺ died and the Sahaabah spread out to various regions to teach the people Islam, there appeared some differences with regard to some matters of fiqh which arose at different times and in different places. These differences were due to a number of reasons, which we will sum up here from the words of the scholars:
The evidence had not reached the one who held a different opinion, and he made a mistake in forming his opinion.
The hadeeth had reached the scholar, but he did not regard the transmitter as trustworthy, and he thought that it went against something that was stronger, so he followed that which he thought was stronger than it.
The hadeeth had reached him but he forgot it.
The hadeeth had reached him but he understood it in a way other than the intended meaning.
The hadeeth reached him but it was abrogated, and he did not know the abrogating text.
He thought that it contradicted something that was stronger than it, whether that was a text or scholarly consensus (ijmaa’)
The scholar used a weak hadeeth as the basis for his ruling, or he derived the ruling by means of weak arguments.
There were differences of opinion amongst the early generation
The Scholars – from the Companions, the Taabi’een, and those who came after them – when they differed in any matter, then they followed the command of Allaah – the Most High – in His saying: “If you differ in anything amongst yourselves then refer it back to Allaah and His Messenger, if you do truly believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.” [Soorah an-Nisaa 4:59]. So they would discuss concerning the issue; discuss, consult and sincerely advise. Sometimes they would differ in matters linked to the ‘aqeedah, as well as issues linked to actions, yet along with such differences, they still preserved the unity and brotherhood. Yes, whosoever opposes the clear Book and the beneficial Sunnah, or that which the Pious Predecessors of this Ummah had Ijmaa’ (consensus) upon, opposing it without a justifiable excuse, then such a person has acted with the action of the Innovators… As regards differing in matters of rulings and actions, then the examples are too many to be recorded. So if every Muslim who differed in something were to be boycotted and abandoned, then no unity or brotherhood would ever remain. And Abu Bakr and ‘Umar radiallaahu ‘anhumaa – who were the best of the Muslims – used to differ in matters, but they did not intend except good. And the Prophet ﷺ said to his Companions on the day of [the expedition to] Banu Quraydhah: “Let none of you pray ‘Asr except when you reach Bonu Quraydhah.” So the time for the ‘Asr Prayer came during the journey, so one group amongst them said: We will not pray until we reach Banu Quraydhah; so they missed the actual time for ‘Asr. The other group said: We will not miss it by delaying the Prayer; so they prayed along the way. And the Prophet ﷺ did not criticise any of the two groups. This is related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, from Ibn ‘Umar. (Bukhari) So this differing was in a matter related to rulings and actions, not in the important usool (fundamantels) itself.”
No Body is Perfect!
Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) stated:
“And there is no one from the Imaams except that he has sayings and actions that are not to be followed alongside the fact that he not to be vilified or debased due to them – and as for these sayings and actions, then they are not known to be in clear-cut or absolute contradiction to the Book and Sunnah, rather they are issues of ijtihaad regarding which there is differing amongst the people of knowledge and Imaan – So it is even possible that these affairs may be qat’iyyah (clear-cut) issues for some to whom Allaah has made the truth clear (since the truth is one),….” [Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 10/ 383-384]
Please join our free online certificate course “STRENGTHEN & UNITE”, to learn more details about how to strengthen, about unity of the Ummah and guidance who to follow amongst sects etc.. https://learn-islam.org/strengthen-and-unite (available online now, register and learn).
Note these are not part of the ongoing course, it is an independent course that can be done at your own pace and at your own convenience.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorize the Ayahs & ahadeeth word for word but get a good understanding about what it means and the message in it.
ATTENDANCE/ASSIGNMENT
Please do this assignment before taking the test, there will be a question asked about the Assignment worth 10 marks in the test: -
I. Invite atleast 15 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 3 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics below mentioned below: - (5 Marks)
i. What weakens the Ummah
ii. Sunan that strengthens Unity
iii. How our sins effect the Ummah.
III. Make Dua for the Muslims that are being oppressed around the world and also for those who are not to get their acts right and start helping the Ummah. (2 Marks)
Please take this assignment as a motivation to start talking about Islam and make it part of your regular day (even if you do not know too much, spread the little that you know, as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Convey from me, even if it is one verse”, most of us are too shy to talk about Islam but are ok to talk about anything under the sky.
May Allah make us all amongst those who call others to good by spreading the Deen of Allah and help us in this noble path.
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FORGOTTEN SUNNAHS : https://learn-islam.org/forgotten-sunnahs-book