Some Muslims claim that the expression “disagreement is a mercy” is an authentic hadith spoken by our Prophet (saas). They therefore put this idea into practice, and thus regard disunity in the Islamic world as quite reasonable.
These words, which conflict with the Qur’an, were obviously never spoken by our Prophet (saas).
God makes division among Muslims unlawful in the Qur’an.
In the view of the Qur’an
Muslims have an obligation to be united,
To live as brothers and not to be divided or quarrel. The opposite, division, is a sin.
However, it is apparent this is not an authentic hadith spoken by our Prophet (saas), since when we refer to the commandments in the Qur'an, God makes it obligatory for “Muslims to be in unity, to live like brothers,
not to be separated,
to be friends with one another,
and not to quarrel among themselves”:
Those who are disbelievers are the friends and protectors of one another. IF YOU DO NOT ACT IN THIS WAY (be friends and protectors of one another) there will be turmoil in the land and great corruption. (Surat Al-Anfal, 73)
Hold fast to the rope of God all together, and DO NOT SEPARATE. Remember God’s blessing to you WHEN YOU WERE ENEMIES AND HE JOINED YOUR HEARTS TOGETHER so that you BECAME BROTHERS by His blessing. You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He rescued you from it. In this way God makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be guided. (Surat Ali Imran, 103)
(Believers are) those who, WHEN THEY ARE WRONGED, DEFEND THEMSELVES. (Surat ash-Shura, 39)
Honest and objective observation of the current state of affairs in the Islamic world makes it perfectly clear whether ‘disunity of the Ummah is a mercy or an affliction’:
The Islamic world is going through the most difficult days in its history.
Muslims are unable to protect their children and women, or the oppressed.
Some 1,000 Muslims are being martyred in Iraq every month.
A person dies every 25 minutes in the fighting in Syria.
Muslims’ homes, their places of worship and their workplaces are constantly being attacked in Rakhine, and hundreds of thousands have been driven into exile.
Afghanistan, Egypt, Palestine, Bangladesh or Somalia: Wherever one looks, Muslims are suffering.
We would now like to ask those who think that disagreement is a blessing how they can still say that and sit back and watch as Muslims are being persecuted.
Let us ask the people in the refugee camps whether or not they think that ‘disagreement is a mercy.’ As you stay in your homes or places of work.
LET US ASK THE MUSLIMS IN EAST TURKESTAN, WHO ARE FORBIDDEN FROM FASTING AND WHOSE DAUGHTERS ARE TAKEN AWAY BY FORCE; DO THEY THINK THAT ‘DISAGREEMENT’ IS A MERCY?
LET US ASK ALL THE HUNDREDS OF UNKNOWN PEOPLE IN EGYPTIAN PRISONS WHETHER THEY THINK THAT DISAGREEMENT IS A MERCY.
Let us ask the starving people in Somalia. Or the mothers of the babies dying in Gaza: Do they think that disagreement is a mercy?
Do these Muslims think that ‘The more we are divided, the greater a mercy that is’?
No! So what do they say? “MUSLIMS! BE UNITED AND SAVE US!”
THE MAIN REASONS BEHIND THE BLOODSHED IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD AND THE DISUNITY BETWEEN MUSLIMS ARE THE ‘DISPUTES’ AMONG THEM
The main cause of bloodshed in the Islamic world today is this tendency toward disagreement among some Muslims, and for that same reason the Islamic world is unable to establish unity on equal terms. Muslims regard one another as enemies, and simply based on this distorted belief, they feel justified in killing one another and shedding the blood of their brothers.
‘MERCY’ LIES NOT IN ‘DISAGREEMENT’ BUT IN UNITING BY OBEYING THE QUR’AN, OUR HOLY BOOK
Obey God and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. God is with the steadfast. (Surat al-Anfal, 46)
For that reason, Bediüzzaman Said Nursi also described the Union of Islam as the greatest obligation on the Islamic world at this time:
THE GREATEST DUTY OF THIS TIME IS ISLAMIC UNITY (THE DAMASCUS SERMON, P. 90)
The path shown to Muslims by our master consists of brotherhood, union and unity. He also said that division would lead to disaster:
O people of faith! If you do not wish to enter a humiliating condition of slavery, come to your senses and enter and take refuge in the citadel of:
‘Indeed the believers are brothers’,
to defend yourselves against those oppressors who would exploit your differences! Otherwise you will be able neither to protect your lives nor to defend your rights.
Letters / Twentysecond Letter – First Topic – Fifth Aspect
