Al-Istiqama - Ibn Taimiya - (1/26)

And Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects—you have nothing to do with them.” [Sūrat al-Anʿām 159]

Among matters in this category are those involving interpretation and independent reasoning, in which a person exerts his utmost in both knowledge and action. Yet a person may do all this without arriving at the truth in questions concerning transmitted reports and belief, or in practical and economic questions. Allah, glorified be He, has pardoned this community for mistakes and forgetfulness, as expressed in His words:

“Our Lord, do not hold us accountable if we forget or make a mistake.” [Sūrat al-Baqarah 286]

It is established in Sahīh Muslim, in reports narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās and Abū Hurayrah from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that Allah answered this supplication for them, saying, “I have done so,” and that they would not recite a single letter of it without being granted what it asks for. This is alongside His words, Most High:

“But those who believe and do righteous deeds—they are the inhabitants of Paradise.” [Sūrat al-Baqarah 82]

وَقَالَ تَعَالَى إِن الَّذين فرقوا دينهم وَكَانُوا شيعًا لست مِنْهُم فِي شئ [سُورَة الْأَنْعَام ١٥٩] وَمن هَذَا الْبَاب مَا هُوَ من بَاب التَّأْوِيل وَالِاجْتِهَاد الَّذِي يكون الْإِنْسَان مستفرغا فِيهِ وَسعه علما وَعَملا ثمَّ الْإِنْسَان قد يبلغ ذَلِك وَلَا يعرف الْحق فِي الْمسَائِل الخبرية الاعتقادية وَفِي الْمسَائِل العملية الاقتصادية وَالله سُبْحَانَهُ قد تجَاوز لهَذِهِ الْأمة عَن الْخَطَأ وَالنِّسْيَان بقوله تَعَالَى رَبنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذنَا إِن نَسِينَا أَو أَخْطَأنَا [سُورَة الْبَقَرَة ٢٨٦] وَقد ثَبت فِي صَحِيح مُسلم من حَدِيث ابْن عَبَّاس وَمن حَدِيث أَبى هُرَيْرَة عَن النَّبِي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم أَن الله اسْتَجَابَ لَهُم هَذَا الدُّعَاء وَقَالَ قد فعلت وَأَنَّهُمْ لم يقرأو بِحرف مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَعْطوهُ وَهَذَا مَعَ قَوْله تَعَالَى وَالَّذين آمنُوا وَعمِلُوا الصَّالِحَات أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَاب الْجنَّة [سُورَة الْبَقَرَة ٨٢]