بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Our Problems Come from Lack of the Basics of Islam
and Basic Aspects of Character

Differences result from the lack of taqwa and from lack of obedience to those who should be obeyed in this life.  This means lack of discipline and too much individualism or, as in another hadith, "every group overly pleased with what is with them".  Also, innovations (bida').  The rightly guided Khulufaa are an example after and in addition to the sunnah of the Prophet (sas).

الترمذي

عَنْ الْعِرْبَاضِ بْنِ سَارِيَةَ قَالَ وَعَظَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمًا بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ الْغَدَاةِ مَوْعِظَةً بَلِيغَةً ذَرَفَتْ مِنْهَا الْعُيُونُ وَوَجِلَتْ مِنْهَا الْقُلُوبُ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ إِنَّ هَذِهِ مَوْعِظَةُ مُوَدِّعٍ فَمَاذَا تَعْهَدُ إِلَيْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ عَبْدٌ حَبَشِيٌّ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ يَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ فَإِنَّهَا ضَلَالَةٌ فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُمْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ

1. Taqwa of Allah and obedience to authority (as long as not disobedience ot Allah)
2. People in their positions without regard for race, nationality or anything else but deen.
3. This Ummah will be afflicted by much division
4. Bid'a: its danger and its role in these divisions
5. All bid'a (terminological meaning) is astray and rejected.
6. The solution to all of this is sticking to the way of the Prophet (sas) and the first four khulufaa.

It was the Prophet's (sas) sunnah to be brief and to the point in mau'idha.  He (sas) said:

مسلم

إِنَّ طُولَ صَلَاةِ الرَّجُلِ وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِهِ مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِهِ فَأَطِيلُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاقْصُرُوا الْخُطْبَةَ وَإِنَّ مِنْ الْبَيَانِ سِحْرًا

Believers are those whose hearts respond to the mention of Allah:

الانفال

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ(2)

Taqwa is not a mere spiritual state which can be sought without regard for and interaction with those around you (other Muslims).  It includes all aspects of life both that which we regard as "deen" and that which we regard as mundane or "dunya".  The Prophet (sas) said:

البخاري

سَمِعْتُ عَدِيَّ بْنَ حَاتِمٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ

Taqwa and Obedience vs. Fitan and Ikhtilaaf

The Prophet (sas) ordered us with taqwa of Allah (in which there is obedience to Him) and to hear and obey in this life those whom Allah would have us obey.  In these two things is success in this life and in the hereafter.  When these two are deficient, the result is chaos in this life and difficulty in the hereafter.  Taqwa is the command and advice of Allah to the first humans to the last humans.  Allah said:

النساء

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَإِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا(131)

As for obedience to authority in this life, it is the key to success in this life and it is part and parcel of taqwa of Allah.  Al-Hassan Al-Basry said:  "They take care of five of your affairs:  Friday prayers, congregational prayers, 'Eid, defending the borders and punishments for crimes.  By Allah, the deen cannot be right except with them, even if they mistreat and oppress.  By Allah, that which Allah rectifies by means of them is greater than any corruption they cause even though - by Allah - obeying them is sickening but separating from them is kufr."

Coming differences; 73 divisions; all in fire except those who upon the way of the Prophet (sas) and his Companions.  The Prophet (sas) informed us that the rightly-guided khilafa will last 30 years.  This is exactly the period of the first four Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.

أحمد

حَدَّثَنِي سَفِينَةُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْخِلَافَةُ فِي أُمَّتِي ثَلَاثُونَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ مُلْكًا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ

Innovataions (Bid'a)

The Prophet (sas) said:

مسلم

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا خَطَبَ احْمَرَّتْ عَيْنَاهُ وَعَلَا صَوْتُهُ وَاشْتَدَّ غَضَبُهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُ مُنْذِرُ جَيْشٍ يَقُولُ صَبَّحَكُمْ وَمَسَّاكُمْ وَيَقُولُ بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةُ كَهَاتَيْنِ وَيَقْرُنُ بَيْنَ إِصْبَعَيْهِ السَّبَّابَةِ وَالْوُسْطَى وَيَقُولُ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَخَيْرُ الْهُدَى هُدَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَشَرُّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ ...

1. Prepare for Qiyama for it is imminent
2. Stay close to the Book of Allah and the guidance (sunnah) of His Messenger
3. Every innovation in the deen is astray

Bid'a is everything new which fulfills to criteria:

1. It pertains to "religion", i.e., worship or anything which one feels to be a means to coming closer to Allah.
2. It is not found nor does it have any origina in the Qur'an and Sunnah and practices of the first generations.

The difference between the linguistic and terminological meaning of bid'a.

Subjugation of the "Ego" to the Message Brought by Muhammad

Belief (iman) includes action and the submission and subjugation of what we "think" or "desire" to the direction given in the message of Muhammad (sas).

لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يكون هواه تبعا لما جئت به

The generosity of Allah Most High in reward for good deeds.

البخاري

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِيمَا يَرْوِي عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ بَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ فَمَنْ هَمَّ بِحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً فَإِنْ هُوَ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ إِلَى سَبْعِ مِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ إِلَى أَضْعَافٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَمَنْ هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً فَإِنْ هُوَ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً

1. How Allah records good/bad deeds/intentions

Duties and Required Attitudes and Actions Toward Other Muslims

Remind yourself of all that is upon you and all that you must avoid and how your heart must be toward other Muslims.  Don't think about the ones for which you find this easy.  Think about the ones for which you have failed.  If we could only learn these aadaab, the unity and discipline which we need so badly would come about.  The problem is the heart - that piece of flesh which if it is sound, the whole being is sound.

مسلم

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَنَاجَشُوا وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا وَلَا تَدَابَرُوا وَلَا يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ لَا يَظْلِمُهُ وَلَا يَخْذُلُهُ وَلَا يَحْقِرُهُ التَّقْوَى هَاهُنَا وَيُشِيرُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنْ الشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ ... وَمِمَّا زَادَ فِيهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَجْسَادِكُمْ وَلَا إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَشَارَ بِأَصَابِعِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ

1. The evil and danger of envy.  Its definition.
2. An-Najaasha - a trivial economic crime, but its ramifications in failing to value others.
3. Malice toward other Muslims - although so common these days - is not allowed.
4. Do not turn away from each other or abandon each other.
5. Interfering with a sale - similar to An-Najaasha
6. Brotherhood comes from slavery to Allah.  The lack of brotherhood indicates lack of slavery to Allah.
7. The RESULT of brotherhood is the absence of oppression, treachery and prejudice among Muslims (?!)
8. These are conditions of the HEART and that is what needs curing if these things are lacking.

The "Payback" for Correct Action with Others is Enormous

More great rewards from Allah.  How is it that Muslims turn away from so many of these practices in spite of the enormous significance of the rewards which Allah promises for them?

مسلم

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِلَّا نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ السَّكِينَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمْ الرَّحْمَةُ وَحَفَّتْهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمْ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ وَمَنْ بَطَّأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ

BEWARE of Bearing Enmity Toward a Friend of Allah

Enmity is very common among us these days.  All believers have a degree of "wilaya" to Allah Most High.  The stronger their iman and the better their actions, the greater that degree of alliance with Allah.  BEWARE toward whom you bear enmity among the Muslims.  Even if you think you are justified.  If by any chance you are wrong and that person as achieved a level of wilaya, you have not made "war" with him at all.  Rather, you have made war with Allah.

البخاري

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ