Ramadan - A Reminder of Unity, by Shaikh Al-Albaanee

[Maher.ibn.Ahmad.Attiyeh]

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma-ba'd
Ramadan - A Reminder of Unity, by Imam Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah)

Excerpt:

Unity is One of the Goals of the Sharee'ah

And this is what is befitting for the easy-natured and tolerant Sharee'ah (Prescribed Islaamic Law), one of the goals of which is uniting the people together, unifying their ranks and keeping away from them all that would split their comprehensive unity - from the individual opinions. So the Sharee'ah does not give any weight to the individual opinion in matters concerning 'ibaadah jamaa'iyyah (collective acts of worship), such as Fasting, 'Eed and Prayer in congregation - even if the opinion is correct, from one angle. Do you not see that the Sahaabah (the Companions) – (radiallaahu 'anhum)- used to pray behind each other. So from them were those who held the view that touching a woman, or the flowing of blood from the body invalidates the wudhoo' (ablution), along with those who did not hold this view. From them were those who would complete the Prayer whilst traveling, whilst others shortened. Yet these, and other such differences, did not prevent them from collectively praying behind a single Imaam and deeming it to be acceptable. And this is because they knew that tafarruq (splitting-up) in the Religion is more evil than having ikhtilaaf (differences) in some opinions. Indeed, the matter with one of them reached the extent that he would not even deem acceptable any opinion which differed with the great Imaam in the major gatherings; such as the gathering at Minaa (during Hajj), to the extent that he would totally abandon acting upon his opinion in that gathering - fleeing from that which could result from this evil, because of acting according to his own opinion.

Thus, Abu Daawood relates (1/307) that 'Uthmaan (radi Allahu anhu) prayed four rak'ahs at Minaa, so 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (radi Allahu anhu) criticized him saying: "I prayed two rak'ahs with the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and two rak'ahs with Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu), and two rak'ahs with 'Umar (radi Allahu anhu), and two rak'ahs with 'Uthmaan (radi Allahu anhu) in the beginning of his rule, then he completed it (i.e. by praying four rak'ahs). After that the ways became divided with you all. So I hope from these four rak'ahs, that two of them would be accepted." Then Ibn Mas'ood (radi Allahu anhu) prayed four rak'ahs. So it was said to him: You criticized 'Uthmaan (radi Allahu anhu), yet you prayed four? So he said: "Differing is evil."

Source: http://attawheedwalathar.blogspot.co...-of-unity.html