Ikhtilaf, or more precisely Intra-Sunni Ikhtilaf is when two or more Sunni Muslims disagree on certain matters. Disagreements happen all the time. To disagree does not mean we have to be enemies. Showing Adab (good conduct/etiquette) in a disagreement also does not mean we support or agree with a wrong position. There is a way to disagree and uphold the truth when it involves other (Sunni) Muslims.

This article provides simple guidelines on the Adab of Ikhtilaaf.

#1 Make Du’a to them.

We should make Du’a that Allah SWT gives Hidaya and opens the hearts of Maulana Saad’s followers to the truth. Most of them are InshaAllah sincere in their Da’wah.

This work of Da’wa itself is very difficult. One has to sacrifice, put up with people, and have a lot of Sabr. We should sympathize with them for putting all their energy toward something false. How will we be answerable to Allah SWT? This should make us shed tears in our Du’a.

“Oh Allah, please remove this Fitna! Please guide so-and-so brother to the truth!”

We all do this Work of Da’wa for our own Islah. As much as we want Hidaya for ourselves, we should desire it for others as well.

‏ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ ‏

Anas RA narrated that the Prophet SAW said: “None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Tirmidhi:2515)

#2 Treat them as our Muslim Brothers

We should treat Maulana Saad’s followers as our Muslim brothers and give them all the rights of a Muslim. This includes giving Salam, helping them when in need, attending funeral prayers, and more.

We should not have any negative emotions toward them. Yes, we are concerned that they are slowly damaging the work of Da’wa through confusion and disunity. However, we must understand that this was never their intention and ultimately Allah SWT will protect his Deen!

 حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ خَمْسٌ رَدُّ السَّلاَمِ، وَعِيَادَةُ الْمَرِيضِ، وَاتِّبَاعُ الْجَنَائِزِ، وَإِجَابَةُ الدَّعْوَةِ، وَتَشْمِيتُ الْعَاطِسِ

Narrated by Abu Huraira RA: The Messenger of Allah SAW said, “The rights of a Muslim on the Muslims are five: to respond to the salaam, visit the sick, to follow the funeral processions, to accept an invitation, and to reply to those who sneeze. (Bukhari:1240)

#3 Do not flame the differences

Most Tablighi Jamaat brothers are soft and have excellent Akhlak (conduct). However, society does not see the majority but only highlights the few. When it comes to the Ikhtilaf, it is sad that a few brothers act with extreme rudeness and even violence. They have anger issues.

To avoid anger, we should:

• Understand why Maulana Saad is wrong according to the Ulema and Elders.
• Understand that the followers of Maulana Saad are just misinformed.

Above all, never flame others.

 لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ

Narrated by Abu Huraira RA, the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari:6114)

Question: If they are following Baatil, should we not reprimand them?

Due to various Fatwas on their leader, it is clear that the followers of Maulana Saad hold the wrong position. Should we tell them off?

The answer to this question falls under the topic of how to perform _Nahi Munka_r (forbidding the evil). There are many writings on this topic and our Sharia is very clear:

• When should one be vague to avoid disputes versus correcting incorrect Islamic beliefs?
• Should I say something?

In general, we should only perform Nahi Munkar within the boundaries of our influence and authority. If we do not have them, the best approach is to win their hearts through Ikraam and Akhlak. This is the method of Tablighi Jamaat.

Where the work is concerned, separation should still be maintained as this is where we see the wrong being spread.

Insulting them by calling them wrong will only make the situation worse and push them further away from the truth.

#4 Stand together on matters related to the Ummah

Despite our differences, we should be ready to stand united in any efforts related to the Muslim Ummah as a whole. For example, supporting the plight of the oppressed or standing against oppression. Never doubt we are all Muslim brothers.

مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم، مثل الجسد إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمى

Numan bin Bashir RS reported, that the Messenger of Allah SAW 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” (Riyadus-Saliheen:224)

#5 Be ready to call out our own brothers if they make a mistake

One danger of fanatic group loyalty is that a person will “defend” their group member even when they see that person doing something wrong. Allah SWT himself has mentioned in the Quran:

۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًۭا فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓا۟ أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۭا

“O you who believe, be upholders of justice – witnesses for Allah, even though against (the interest of) your selves or the parents, and the kinsmen. One may be rich or poor, Allah is better caretaker of both. So do not follow desires, lest you should swerve. If you twist or avoid (the evidence), then, Allah is all-aware of what you do.“

Source: Quran 4:135

If we see our own team member doing something wrong and the other team doing something right, we should be ready to call out the wrong, while still maintaining the differences.

We should also be ready to defend the oppressed no matter which group they belong to.

#6 Do not be happy when they are weak or boastful when we are strong

We should avoid rivalry, especially comparing numbers with them. This effort of Da’wa has never been about numbers. We should attribute all good and bad conditions to Allah SWT. We should never be boastful when we are strong, or joyous when they are weak or if something bad happens to them.

 لاَ تُظْهِرِ الشَّمَاتَةَ لأَخِيكَ فَيَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ وَيَبْتَلِيكَ

Wathilah bin Al-Asqa’ narrated that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “Do not rejoice over the mishaps of your brother so that Allah has mercy on him and subjects you to trials.” (Tirmidhi:2506)

Likewise, we should be patient when we are weak and not get affected when they are strong.

#7 Have good thoughts and never judge them as a whole.

We should never judge Maulana Saad’s followers as a whole. As much as possible, it is their leader who is at the center of this. We should adopt “Husni Dzan” (good thoughts) toward the followers of Maulana Saad. In reality:

• Most of them do not have access to the truth due to their circumstances.
• Most of them are just following their local Markaz and not following every wrong ideology of Maulana Saad.
• Most of them are sincere and just want to do Da’wah.

We should be clear on who the main problem is, and never blame the masses as a whole.

 لاَ تُظْهِرِ الشَّمَاتَةَ لأَخِيكَ فَيَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ وَيَبْتَلِيكَ

Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “Beware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.”

Source: Tirmidhi:2506

#8 Do not lump them together with pure Baatil or Non-Sunni Groups

When it comes to intra-sunni deviances, our use of language matters. There are different levels of deviances. Some deviances are smaller than major deviances. The key thing is not to lump Sunnis who we disagree with with pure Baatil groups such as the Shi’a, Qadyani, etc.

This is one of the problems with modern day Salafi groups. They lump everyone who does not agree with them as ‘Ahlul Bid’ah’, ‘Shirk’, ‘ People of the Fire’, etc

While the deviations of Maulana Saad has been highlighted by many Ulema and Fatawas, no way is his deviance in the same category as those who are outright misguided like the Shias or Qadyanis. This is even more for his followers. Most of them are pure hearted and just want to be involved in Da’wa.

#9 Do not clash with their activities

With Mashwara, we should avoid any potential conflict or clashes with their activities. For example, if they have occupied a Masjid for Jamaat or Gasht, we may consider another Masjid or conduct our activities at a different time instead.

 إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ وَلَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فَصَبَرَ فَوَاهًا

Narrated Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad I swear by Allah, I heard the Messenger of Allah SAW say: The happy man is he who avoids dissensions: happy is the man who avoids dissensions; happy is the man who avoids dissensions: but how fine is the man who is afflicted and shows endurance.

Source: Abu Dawood:4263

#10 To avoid confrontation, peacefully separate our activities from them

How can we work together when groups take instructions from different leadership? Conflicts will surely arise.

To avoid such conflicts, we should peacefully separate our activities from them. This includes avoiding their programs, joining their Joula/Gasht, etc.

This has in fact been the advice of our elders, who themselves are mostly Scholars.

Reference: The Shura’s stance on navigating differences

Separation does not mean we are enemies. We should never sabotage or directly confront them. As mentioned before, they are our Muslim brothers who are Insha Allah sincere in their Da’wa.

#11 Only talk about the Ikhtilaf with Hikmah or when asked

Unless we have direct authority or ‘Taaluq’ (strong influence) over a person, we should not talk or discuss the Ikhtilaf unless someone asks about it.

It is best to just focus on the work of Da’wa. There is no need to further escalate the matter.

خِيَارُكُمْ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا‏ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاحِشًا وَلاَ مُتَفَحِّشًا

Abdullah bin Amr RA said, The Messenger of Allah SAW said:
“The best of you are those best in conduct. And the Prophet was not obscene, nor one who uttered obscenities.”

Source: Tirmidhi:1975

#12 Seek to warn and not to backbite

If we must criticize an individual among them, it must be within the boundaries of “Warning,” not “Backbiting.” One requirement for “Warning” is that the harm done by that individual must be widely known (See our article: “Backbiting vs Warning“) and that person must be someone from whom people take their Deen.

أَلاَ لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّ رَجُلاً هَيْبَةُ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحَقٍّ إِذَا عَلِمَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَبَكَى أَبُو سَعِيدٍ وَقَالَ قَدْ وَاللَّهِ رَأَيْنَا أَشْيَاءَ فَهِبْنَا

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RA that the Messenger of Allah SAW stood up to deliver a sermon and one of the things he said was: “Indeed, fear of people should not prevent a man from speaking the truth if he knows it.” Then Abu Sa’eed wept and said: “By Allah, we have seen things that made us scared (and we did not speak up).”

Source: Ibn Majah:4007

Final note

Today, we live in a time where un-Islamic ideas spread under the guise of “Tolerance/Unity“.

It has been reported by Ibn Mas’ood(RA) that the Holy Prophet(SAW) said: “The decline and fall of Bani Israel started when the pious among them saw certain sins being committed by the transgressors, they forbade them from doing the same; but when the sinners did not repent, the pious because of their relationship and friendship continued to mix with them. So, when this state of affairs began to prevail, Allah caused their hearts to be accursed in the same manner.”

Source: Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood

As for the followers of Maulana Saad, we are united as (Sunni) Muslim brothers, but there is no need to work together in the effort. We disagree with them but having differences does not mean we have to be enemies.

Allah SWT knows best.