The Unity of Muslims — Page 35
35 advised against this course of action. When the companion inquired further on what he should do, the Prophet s as said, 21 ِ عَلَیْکَ بِالْجَمَاعَة stand by the Jamā‘at. As such, he highlighted individuality to the point of considering the nation’s disagreements a form of mercy, all the while emphasising the necessity of standing with the Muslim community, even in the face of oppression. In short, the teachings of Prophet Muhammad s as and the Holy Quran recognise the coexistence of disagreement and unity. The query at hand pertains to the principles that can sustain unity while respecting individuality. In the Holy Quran, Allah the Exalted says: نُشۡرِکَ بِہٖ شَیۡئًا اللّٰہَ وَلَا نَعۡبُدَ اِلَّا وَبَیۡنَکُمۡ اَلَّا ٍ سَو َٓاءٍۢ بَیۡنَنَا ة کَلِمَ اِلٰی قُلۡ یٰۤاَہۡلَ الۡکِتٰبِ تَعَالَوۡا 22 َ مُسۡلِمُوۡن بِاَنَّا اشۡہَدُوۡا فَقُوۡلُوا مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہ ِ ؕ فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا اَرۡبَابًا بَعۡضًا یَتَّخِذَ بَعۡضُنَا وَّلَا God Almighty instructs His Prophet to extend an invitation to the Christians and the Jews to find unity in the central belief that unites us all. What is that common point? It is that you and I both proclaim that God is One. So let us unite on this point. Indeed, you 21 Sunan Ibn Majah , Book of Tribulation, Chapter: Isolating oneself. [Publishers] 22 Say, “O People of the Book! come to a word equal between us and you — that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partner with Him, and that some of us take not others for Lords beside Allah. ” But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we have submitted to God. ’ ( Sūrah Āl-e-‘Imrān , 3:65). [Publishers]