And unity and harmony are among the greatest obligations imposed by Allah and His Messenger. Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.”

“And hold firmly, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not become divided.”

Then, further on, He says:

“And do not be like those who became divided and differed after clear proofs had come to them. They will suffer a tremendous punishment.”

“On the Day when some faces will turn white and some faces will turn black.”

Ibn ʿAbbās said: “The faces of the people of the Sunnah and the community will turn white, and the faces of the people of religious innovation and division will turn black.”

Many of these people become people of religious innovation by departing from the Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prescribed for his nation. They also become people of division by dividing in opposition to the unity commanded by Allah and His Messenger. Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, those who divided their religion and became sects—you have nothing to do with them.”

Allah Most High also says:

“None differed over it except those who were given it, after clear proofs had come to them.”

And Allah Most High says:

“Those who were given the Scripture did not become divided until after the clear proof had come to them.”

“Yet they were commanded only to worship Allah, devoting their religion sincerely to Him, turning away from falsehood, to establish prayer and to give zakah. That is the upright religion.”

Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam. Those who were given the Scripture did not differ until after knowledge had come to them, out of rivalry among themselves.”

Allah Most High also says:

“And We gave them clear proofs concerning the matter. They did not differ until after knowledge had come to them, out of rivalry among themselves.”

And Allah Most High says:

“They did not differ until knowledge had come to them. Indeed,