Discord is not Mercy

Question

You wrote in your book “Zadud-Da’iyah Illallah” the following: “Discord and Partisanship pleases no one but the enemy of Islam and the enemy of the Muslims.” But the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Difference in my nation is a mercy.” What is meant by this difference that is mercy? And what is the discord that you referred to?


Answer

The Hadith mentioned is weak, and it is not authentically attributed to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), And remember that Allah Almighty says:

“But they will not cease to disagree – except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy and for that did He create them.” (Surah Hud 11: 118-119)

So, Allah Almighty describes discord as a quality of those who are not given mercy. It is imperative for us not to differ and disagree; Allah’s Mercy for the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) nation is that it doesn’t differ. I don’t say that we don’t differ among ourselves in speech or opinions, but I do say that we don’t differ in our hearts.

Supposing the Hadith to be authentic, it could mean that difference of opinion among us is a mercy from Allah Almighty, meaning that Allah Almighty rewards whoever from us expends his faculties to arrive at the truth, even if his end conclusions is wrong. The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said:

“If a judge is right in his ruling after having exhausted his faculties (to arrive at the truth), he gets two rewards, if he is wrong, he gets one.” (Al-Bukhari No. 7352)

Were it to be a proof, this would be the meaning of the Hadith mentioned by the questioner, however, the correct view is that it is weak. So there is no contradication between what was written in Zadud-Da’iyah and between the above-mentioned Hadith.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin (Rahimahullah)

Reference: Fatawa Islamiyah Volume 8 Pages 38-39