629 - تَفسيرُ «اختِلافُ اُمَّتي رَحمَةٌ»

629. EXPLANATION OF 'THE SEPARATION OF MY COMMUNITY IS A MERCY'

1897.معاني الأخبار عن عبد المُؤمِن الأنصاريّ : قلت للإمامِ الصّادقِ عليه السلام: إنّ قَوماً رَوَوا أنَّ رسولَ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله قالَ : إنّ اخْتِلافَ اُمَّتي رَحمَةٌ؟ فقالَ : صَدَقوا . قلتُ : إنْ كانَ اخْتِلافُهُم رَحمَةً فاجْتِماعُهُم عَذابٌ ؟ قالَ : لَيس حيثُ ذَهَبْتَ وذَهَبوا ، إنَّما أرادَ قولَ اللَّهِ عزّوجلّ: (فلَولا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ)¹، فأمَرَهُم أنْ يَنْفِروا إلى‏ رسولِ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله ويَخْتَلِفوا إلَيهِ فيَتَعلّموا ثُمَّ يَرْجِعوا إلى‏ قَومِهِم فيُعَلّموهُم ، إنّما أرادَ اخْتِلافَهُم مِن البُلْدانِ ، لا اخْتِلافاً في دِينِ اللَّهِ ، إنّما الدِّينُ واحِدٌ .²

1897. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) was asked by Abd al-Mu'min al-Ansari, 'Verily some people narrated from the Prophet (SAWA) that he said, "The separation of my community is a mercy" and they were truthful, so I ask that if their separation is a mercy then is their congregation a chastisement?', to which the Imam replied, 'It is not as you understand it nor as they understood it, actually he meant the saying of Allah, "But why should not there go forth a group from each of their sections..." so He commanded them to go forth to the Prophet (SAWA) and to frequent him and learn from him then to return to their people and teach them, so what is meant is [physical] separation from their cities, not separation or difference with regards to the religion of Allah, for verily the religion of Allah is one.' ³

628 - الحَثُّ عَلَى‏ نَبذِ الاختِلافِ‏

628. ENCOURAGEMENT TO DISCARD DIFFERENCES

(وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً) .¹

"Hold fast, all together, to Allah's cord, and do not be divided [into sects]. And remember Allah's blessing upon you when you were enemies, then He brought your hearts together, so you became brothers with His blessing." ²

1893.رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ما اخْتَلَفَتْ اُمَّةٌ بَعدَ نَبِيّها إلّا ظَهرَ أهْلُ باطِلِها على‏ أهْلِ حقِّها .³

1893.The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'No sooner does a community differ [between themselves] after their own prophet, than the people of falsehood from amongst them become victorious over the people of truth.' ⁴

1894.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : والْزَموا السَّوادَ الأعْظَمَ ، فإنَّ يَدَ اللَّهِ مَع الجَماعةِ ، و إيّاكُم والفُرْقَةَ ، فإنَّ الشّاذَّ مِن النّاسِ للشَّيطانِ ، كما أنّ الشّاذَّ مِن الغَنَمِ للذِّئبِ .⁵

1894.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Stay with the greater majority, for verily Allah's hand is with the [larger] group. Beware of separation for verily the deviant amongst you is the victim of Satan just as the deviant amongst the cattle is the victim of a wolf.' ⁶

1895.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : واللَّهِ ، لَأظُنُّ أنَّ هؤلاءِ القَومَ سَيُدالونَ مِنكُم باجْتِماعِهِم على‏ باطِلِهم وتَفَرُّقِكُم عن حقِّكُم .⁷

1895.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'By Allah, verily I believe that this group will overcome you, by congregating upon their falsehood and you not being united on your truth and being on the right path.' ⁸

1896.الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما اخْتَلفَتْ دَعْوَتان إلّا كانتْ إحْداهُما ضَلالةً .⁹

1896.Imam Ali (AS) said, 'No sooner do two differing claims arise than one of them is erroneous. ¹⁰