Adab of Ikhtilaf

Ikhtilaf is when two or more Muslim parties disagree on certain matters. Disagreements happen all the time and to disagree does not mean we have to be enemies. Showing Adab (good conduct/etiquette) in a disagreement also does not mean we support or agree on a wrong position. There is a way to disagree and uphold the truth when it involves other Muslims.

One of the purposes of this website is to clarify the separation of Tablighi Jamaat from Maulana Saad’s version (aka the Nizamuddin Faction). We have provided clarifications, proofs, fatwas, authentic letters and audio testimonies from Ulemas and Senior elders, including a well-written history of Tabligh, explaining why Maulana Saad is at the centre of the current issue and why we should stick to the pre-existing Shura and the original Tabligh.

Having differences does not mean we have to be enemies. This is a fundamental common sense living in society.

This article provides a simple guideline on the Adab of Ikhtilaaf with the followers of Maulana Saad

#1 Make Du’a for them.

We should make Du’a that Allah SWT gives Hidaya and opens the followers of Maulana Saad to the truth. Most of them are InshaAllah sincere in their Da’wah.

This work of Da’wa itself is very difficult. One has to sacrifice, put up with people and have a lot of Sabr. We should therefore sympathise with them for putting all their energy towards something false. How will we be answerable to Allah SWT? This should make us shed our tears in our Du’a.

“Oh Allah, please remove this Fitna! Please guide so-and-so brother to the truth!”

We all do this Work of Da’wa for our own Islah. As much as want Hidaya for ourselves, we should desire it for others as well.

‏ لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ ‏

Anas RA narrated that the Prophet SAW said: “None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Tirmidhi:2515)

#2 Treat them as our Muslim Brothers

We should treat Maulana Saad’s followers as our Muslim brothers and give them all the rights of a Muslim. This includes giving Salam, helping them when in need, attending funeral prayers, etc.

We should not have any negative emotions towards them. Yes, we are concerned that they are slowly destroying the work of Da’wa through confusion and disunity. However, we have to understand that it was never their intention to do so!

 حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ خَمْسٌ رَدُّ السَّلاَمِ، وَعِيَادَةُ الْمَرِيضِ، وَاتِّبَاعُ الْجَنَائِزِ، وَإِجَابَةُ الدَّعْوَةِ، وَتَشْمِيتُ الْعَاطِسِ

Narrated by Abu Huraira RA: The Messenger of Allah SAW said, “The rights of a Muslim on the Muslims are five: to respond to the salaam, visit the sick, to follow the funeral processions, to accept an invitation, and to reply to those who sneeze. (Bukhari:1240)

#3 Do not flame the differences

Most Tablighi Jamaat brothers are soft and have excellent Akhlak (conduct). However, society does not see the majority but only highlights the few. When it comes to the Ikhtilaf, it is unfortunate that a few brothers act with extreme rudeness and even violence. They have anger issues.

In order to avoid anger, we should:

• Understand why Maulana Saad is wrong according to the Ulema and Elders.
• Understand that the followers of Maulana Saad are just misinformed.

Above all, never flame others.

 لَيْسَ الشَّدِيدُ بِالصُّرَعَةِ، إِنَّمَا الشَّدِيدُ الَّذِي يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ عِنْدَ الْغَضَبِ

Narrated by Abu Huraira RA, the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari:6114)

Question: If they are following Baatil, should we not reprimand them?

Due to various Fatwas, it is clear that they are in the wrong position. Should we not tell them off? The answer to this question falls under the general category of how to perform Nahi Munkar (forbidding the evil). There are many Fatwas and writings on this topic and our Sharia is very clear on this:

• When should one be vague to avoid disputes versus correcting incorrect Islamic beliefs?
• Should I say something?

In general, we should only perform Nahi Munkar within the boundaries of our authority. If we don’t have authority, the best way is to win their hearts through Ikraam and Akhlak. This is the method of Tablighi Jamaat. Separation should still be maintained where the work is concerned as this is where we see the wrong being propagated.

Insulting them by calling them out as wrong, even with soft words will only exaggerate the situation and push them towards the wrong.

#4 Stand together on matters related to the Ummah

Despite our differences, we should be ready to stand united in any efforts related to the Muslim Ummah as a whole. For example, supporting the plight of the oppressed or standing against oppression. Never doubt we are all Muslim brothers.

مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم، مثل الجسد إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالسهر والحمى

Numan bin Bashir RS reported, that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever” (Riyadus-Saliheen:224)

#5 Be ready to call out our own brothers if they make a mistake

One of the dangers of fanatic affiliation to a group is that one will “defend” their own group member even if he sees their group member doing something wrong. Allah SWT himself has mentioned in the Quran:

۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ ۚ إِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًۭا فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَا ۖ فَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ أَن تَعْدِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓا۟ أَوْ تُعْرِضُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۭا

“O you who believe, be upholders of justice – witnesses for Allah, even though against (the interest of) your selves or the parents, and the kinsmen. One may be rich or poor, Allah is better caretaker of both. So do not follow desires, lest you should swerve. If you twist or avoid (the evidence), then, Allah is all-aware of what you do.“

Souce: Quran 4:135

If we see our own team member doing something wrong and the other team doing something right, we should be ready to call out the wrong, while still maintaining the differences. We should also be ready to defend the oppressed no matter which group they are in.

#6 Do not be happy when they are weak or boastful when we are strong

We should avoid rivalry especially comparing numbers with them. This effort of Da’wa has never been about numbers. We should attribute all good and bad conditions to Allah SWT. We should never be boastful when we are strong, joyous when they are weak or if something bad happens to them.

 لاَ تُظْهِرِ الشَّمَاتَةَ لأَخِيكَ فَيَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ وَيَبْتَلِيكَ

Wathilah bin Al-Asqa’ narrated that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “Do not rejoice over the mishaps of your brother so that Allah has mercy on him and subjects you to trials.” (Tirmidhi:2506)

Vice versa, we should make Sabr when we are weak or not get affected when they are strong.

#7 Have good thoughts and never judge them as a whole.

We should never judge Maulana Saad’s followers as a whole. As much as possible, it is their leader who is at the centre of this. We should adopt “Husni Dzan” (good thoughts) on the followers of Maulana Saad. In reality:

• Most of them do not have access to the truth due to the circumstances they are in.
• Most of them are just following their local Markaz and not really following every wrong ideology of Maulana Saad.
• Most of them are sincere and just want to do Da’wah.

We should be clear on who the main problem is, and never on the masses as a whole.

 لاَ تُظْهِرِ الشَّمَاتَةَ لأَخِيكَ فَيَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ وَيَبْتَلِيكَ

Abu Hurairah RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah SAW said: “Beware of Zann (suspicion), for indeed Zann is the falsest of speech.”

Source: Tirmidhi:2506

#8 Do not clash with their activities

With Mashwara, we should avoid any potential conflict or clashes with their activities. For example, if they have occupied a Masjid for Jamaat or Gasht, we may consider another Masjid or conduct our activities at a different time instead.

 إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ وَلَمَنِ ابْتُلِيَ فَصَبَرَ فَوَاهًا

Narrated Al-Miqdad ibn al-Aswad I swear by Allah, I heard the Messenger of Allah SAW say: The happy man is he who avoids dissensions: happy is the man who avoids dissensions; happy is the man who avoids dissensions: but how fine is the man who is afflicted and shows endurance.

Source: Abu Dawood:4263

#9 To avoid confrontation, peacefully separate our activities from them

The difference in the two groups of Tablighi Jamaat is at the fundamental level. How is it possible to work together when both groups are taking instruction from different administrations? Conflicts are bound to arise.

To avoid such conflicts, we should peacefully separate our activities from them. This includes attending their programs, bringing them for Joula/Gasht, etc.

Reference: The Shura’s stance on navigating differences

Separation does not mean we are enemies. We should never sabotage nor directly confront them. As mentioned before, they are our Muslim brothers who are Insha Allah sincere in their Da’wa.

#10 Only talk about the Ikhtilaf with Hikmah or when asked

Unless we have direct authority or ‘Taaluq’ (strong influence) over a person, it is advised that we do not talk or discuss the Ikhtilaf unless a person asks about it.

It is best to just concentrate on the work of Da’wa.

خِيَارُكُمْ أَحَاسِنُكُمْ أَخْلاَقًا‏ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَكُنِ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَاحِشًا وَلاَ مُتَفَحِّشًا

Abdullah bin Amr RA said, The Messenger of Allah SAW said:
“The best of you are those best in conduct. And the Prophet was not obscene, nor one who uttered obscenities.”

Souce: Tirmidhi:1975

#11 Seek to warn and not to backbite

If we have to criticize an individual amongst them, it must be with the boundaries of “Warning”, and not “Backbiting”. One of the prerequisites of a “Warning” is that the level of harm done by that individual must be widely spread (See our article: “Backbiting vs Warning“).

أَلاَ لاَ يَمْنَعَنَّ رَجُلاً هَيْبَةُ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحَقٍّ إِذَا عَلِمَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَبَكَى أَبُو سَعِيدٍ وَقَالَ قَدْ وَاللَّهِ رَأَيْنَا أَشْيَاءَ فَهِبْنَا

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RA that the Messenger of Allah SAW stood up to deliver a sermon and one of the things he said was: “Indeed, fear of people should not prevent a man from speaking the truth if he knows it.” Then Abu Sa’eed wept and said: “By Allah, we have seen things that made us scared (and we did not speak up).”

Souce: Ibn Majah:4007

Final note

While staying united is a commendable act in Islam, not all unity is good. Today, we live in a time where un-Islamic ideologies are being spread under the guise of “Tolerance/Unity“.

It has been reported by Ibn Mas’ood(RA) that the Holy Prophet(SAW) said: “The decline and fall of Bani Israel started when the pious among them saw certain sins being committed by the transgressors, they forbade them from doing the same; but when the sinners did not repent, the pious because of their relationship and friendship continued to mix with them. So, when this state of affairs began to prevail, Allah caused their hearts to be accursed in the same manner.”

Source: Timidhi and Abu Dawood

As for the followers of Maulana Saad, we are united as Muslim brothers, but there is no requirement to be together in the effort. As mentioned before, how is it possible to work together when the groups are taking instructions from two separate administrations? Having differences does not mean we are enemies.