A bone to pick with those who feel that “Refutation Causes Disunity or Problems Between Muslims”
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Disobedience to the Messenger and Bidah is The Cause of Disunity and Not Refutation Against Error
Allah [The Most High] says:
وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ فَتَفۡشَلُواْ وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute [with one another] lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabireen [the patient ones, etc.]. [Surah Al-Anfaal Ayah 46]
[وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ – And obey Allah and His Messenger]: Meaning: obey Allah and the Messenger in that which you have been commanded, [and keep away from everything forbidden by Allah and His Messenger], and adhere to this path in all circumstances. [وَلَا تَنَـٰزَعُواْ – and do not dispute (with one another)]: Meaning: Do not dispute because it will cause your hearts to become disunited; [فَتَفۡشَلُواْ – lest you lose courage]; [وَتَذۡهَبَ رِيحُكُمۡۖ – and your strength depart]: Meaning: [If you do not obey Allah and His Messenger, and you start disputing], your resolve will depart. You will lose your strength and the promise you have been given that you will be aided -due to obedience to Allah and His Messenger- will be withdrawn.
[وَٱصۡبِرُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ – and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc.)]: Meaning: Exercise patience in obedience to Allah [and obedience to His Messenger], for indeed Allah will aid you and give you victory. Fear your Lord and humble yourselves to Him. [1]
Al-Allaamah Zaid Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali [may Allah preserve him) said, “The Mubtadi is the cause for the splitting because splitting is connected to Bidah and unity is connected to the Sunnah. The obligation of refuting the Mukhaalif [the opposer of the truth] is not lifted from the scholar due to anticipation of harm unless it is harm he is not able to bear. Then (in this case), Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. The earth is not devoid of people of knowledge who will carry out refutation against the Mubtadi and the Mukhaalif”. [2]
Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan [may Allah preserve him] said: The cause of the differences that take place between the callers is the difference in methodologies. Had the callers [may Allah guide them and grant them success] followed a single methodology -the methodology of the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and that which the Sahaabah followed, these differences would not have occurred. Therefore, it is obligated to all the callers to make their methodology one based on the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger, and their call is (carried out) for the sake of Allah and to make the word of Allah uppermost. Their call should not be for the sake of desires, raising individuals or parties; rather their call should be sincerely for Allah’s Face, to make Allah’s word uppermost, to follow Allah’s Messenger, and aid the Religion ordained by Allah. Through this, the differences will cease. [3]
[1] An Excerpt from “Tafseer As-sadi”
[2] An Excerpt from “Al Ajwibah Al Mukhtasar Alaa As’ila Al-Ashrah” page 43-44
[3] Al-Ijaabah Al-Muhimmah Fil Mashaakil Al-Mulimmah pages 221-222