to the point that a man allies himself with one group and shows hostility towards another on the basis of conjecture and desire, without any proof from Allah Most High? Allah has declared His Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, free of any association with those who act in this way. Such is the conduct of the people of innovation, like the Khawārij, who broke away from the Muslim community and deemed it lawful to shed the blood of those who disagreed with them. As for the people of the Sunnah and the united community, they hold firmly to the rope of Allah.

At the very least, such conduct involves a man favouring someone who agrees with his own desires, even though someone else may be more mindful of Allah. Rather, one must give precedence to those whom Allah and His Messenger have given precedence, and place after them those whom Allah and His Messenger have placed after them; love what Allah and His Messenger love, hate what Allah and His Messenger hate, forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and be pleased with what Allah and His Messenger are pleased with. Muslims must stand united.

How much worse, then, when some people go so far as to declare another person misguided and an unbeliever, even though that person may be in the right and his position may accord with the Quran and Sunnah? Even if his Muslim brother has made a mistake in some religious matter, not everyone who makes a mistake is an unbeliever or a sinner. Indeed, Allah has pardoned this community for mistakes and forgetfulness.

“Allah Most High has said in His Book, in the supplication of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the believers:

‘Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.’

And it is authentically reported that Allah said: ‘I have done so.’”

This is especially so when someone may agree with you in something more specific than Islam—for example, when he, like you, is