Allāh commanded with steadfastness (upon the religion), moderation, taking the middle course and He prohibited harshness and negligence.
How is Istiqāmah Attained?
Steadfastness is (attained by ones actions and belief) being in conformity with the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (alaihi salātu was salām), and that which the Pious Predecessors from the early period of this nation were upon.
A slave dealt harshly with his master, so he [i.e. the master] said: “Indeed as you can see I exercise patience with this boy in order to train my soul- because if I exercise patience with the slave [whilst bearing] that which is hated, I will exercise more patience with other than him [i.e. when dealing with others]”.
[Source: Kitaab Uyoounul Akhbaar’ of Ibn Qutaybah (rahimahullaah): Vol: 1-page: 332]
There is no inkaar (renouncement/disapproval of one another) in those affairs of the Religion in which the (scholars) hold differences of opinion
Some people are under the illusion that what is intended by this statement, is that it is not permissible to disapprove of (one another) with regards to any affair in which difference of opinion is held. So based upon this (illusion of theirs), it becomes impermissible to disapprove of a Munkar (an evil) unless there is complete agreement in doing so. This is a wrong understanding necessitating the closure of the door of enjoining good and forbidding evil.
The scholars hold differences of opinion in most of the masaa-il; and that which is correct with regards to this statement (Laa Inkaar Fee Masaa-il Al-Khilaaf) is that there should neither be harshness in disapproval nor reprimand with regards to those issues about which there is no manifest proof to be taken as the final (affair). And the basis upon which this is founded is that the issues of khilaaf are of two categories;
The First Category Of Khilaaf:
They are those issues of khilaaf in which there is proof necessitating that it be taken as the final (affair). So here, the proof must be taken and the other statement/opinion in opposition is discarded.
And whoever follows the statement/opinion that is established to be in opposition to the proofs, then he is to be renounced/disapproved of.
The Second Category Of Khilaaf:
It is those issues of khilaaf in which the proof has not been manifested for it to be taken as the final (affair). It is an affair in which the evidences are either at contention or the views are at variance. This is an issue of ijtihaad, and there is neither disapproval nor reprimand against the one in opposition; rather advice is given for acquaintance with the statement/opinion that carries more weight.
This second category of (khilaaf) is what is intended by the statement (Laa Inkaar Fee Masaa-il Al-Khilaaf), which some people have understood in an unrestrictive manner. [1]
