Muzafer,
I
agree with you, but we must also remember that we are only commanded to convey
the truth from Allah, and who can give Hidayah (guidance) only Allah.
An
ikhtilaf or khilafiyah (difference of opinion) in religion is an undeniable
thing about its existence, because it is one of Sunnatullah (the will of
Allah).
�And
if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah (one
religion i.e. Islam), but they will not cease to disagree.� Qur�an (11):118
The
phenomenon that is now being developed in the Muslim community is the presence
of ikhtilaf / hilafiyah, thus making some people blame each other, some of them
become apathetic, some are quarreling and divisive. Unfortunately, some Muslims
don't care about the word of Allah in the Qur'an 3: 103
The
emergence of Ikhtilaf (dissent), not necessarily always end with Iftiraq (split
of ummah), but the emergence of Iftiraq, certainly begins with the Ikhtilaf.
As
for the opinion that the difference of opinion in the ummah is a mercy, it is
true if it ends with a goodness, not end with divisive, let alone until a
dispute occurs. Allah Almighty ordered to unite and forbade divisive, so that
this ummah is not weak in strength. Qur'an (8):46
At
the time of Prophet Muhammad, the Muslims are still united, one aqidah,
one fiqrah and one in the shade of the
flag dienul Islam. So at that time called the golden age of unity of Muslims.
At the time of Sahabah, although there were already ikhtilaf (difference of
opinion), but they were not divisive, they always hold to the Qur'an and
As-Sunnah in every settle a difference of opinion.
Also
at the time of the Imam Mujtahidin, they differed but were not divisive, even
they had agreed if there was a fatwa of them that was incompatible with the
Qur'an and As-Sunnah, then their fatwa should be aborted or abandoned. Ibnu
Abbas states that the weakness of the unity of the ummah because they are
always at loggerheads in religion.
�And
be not as those who devided and differed among themselves after the clear
proofs (Al Qur�an) had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful
torment.� Qur�an (3):105.
�But
they have broken their religion among them into sects, each group rejoicing in
what is with it (as its beliefs). So leave them in their error for a time.� Qur�an
(23):53-54.
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