The Unity of Muslims — Page 34
34 Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad not divided. If you allow divisions to form, your collective strength will wane. This is a call for collective unity, yet the Holy Quran also acknowledges that those who refuse to diverge from their ancestral religion are faithless. As such, the Book of Allah embraces both unity and divergence. Similarly, both aspects were acknowledged by the Holy Prophet s as who said 19 ٌ اِخْتِلَافُ اُمَّتِيْ رَحْمَة or differences in my ummah are mercy. He characterised distinctions as a blessing rather than a curse, asserting that conflicting parties remain integral parts of his nation, regardless of their disputes. However, Prophet Muhammad s as also said, 20 فَلَیْس َ مِنَّا مَن ْ فَارَق َ الْجَمَاعَة َ شِبْر ًا Whoever strays even a handspan from the congregation is not one of us. Thus, on the one hand, the Holy Prophet s as accepted that differences are a blessing, and on the other, he warned that anyone who parts ways from the Jamā‘at is no longer among us and ceases to be a Muslim. A companion of Prophet Muhammad s as sought guidance on how to address divisions: should he take up the sword and confront the people? The Prophet s as 19 Mauzua‘at Mullah Ali Qari , p. 17, 1927 Delhi. [Publishers] 20 Sahih Muslim , Book of Governance, Chapter: Obligation of staying with the Jamā‘at when tribulations appear. [Publishers]