. - Sheikh Otheimin

Do the Book and the Sunnah allow multiple groups and parties?

Question:

Are there any texts from the Book of Allaah or the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam which contain an allowance of multiple groups and parties or al-Ikhwaan?
Answer:

I say: There is not in either the Book or the Sunnah that which allows multiple parties and groups. Rather, there is in the Book and the Sunnah that which censures this. Allaah - the Most High - said: "Verily those who split-up their religion and become sects, you have no concern with them in the least. Their affair is with Allaah, Who will tell them about what they used to do." [Soorah al-An'aam 6: 159]. Allaah - the Most High - said: "Each sect rejoicing in only that which is with itself." [Soorah Room 30:32]. And there is no doubt that these parties are contrary to what Allaah ordered. Rather what Allaah has ordered and encouraged is in His saying: "And indeed this Ummah of yours is one Ummah and I am your Lord, so fear and obey Me." [Soorah al-Mu'minoon 23:52]. And some people say: It is not possible for the da'wah (call) to be strong unless it is done within the framework of a party! We say to that: This is incorrect! Rather the da'wah will be strong whenever the person is under the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam following the narrations of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam and that of his Companions.
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-`Uthaymeen
From a cassette entitled Majmoo' Kalaamul-'Ulemaa fee 'Abdur-Rahmaan 'Abdul-Khaaliq (side two).

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