The Sixth Reason

The division among the rightly guided does not arise from cowardice or from a lack of aspiration or zeal. Nor does the strong unity around worldly matters among worldly-minded people and those who have gone astray, who remain heedless of Allah, arise from courage, perseverance, or zeal.

Rather, the rightly guided generally think of the benefits and rewards they will obtain in the Hereafter. Since matters relating to the Hereafter are numerous, they direct and distribute their aspiration and zeal among those many important matters. Because they do not devote their true capital—their time—to one single matter, but to many, their unity with those in the same position cannot become strong. Their concerns are many, and their sphere is broad.

Worldly-minded people, however, who remain heedless of Allah, focus exclusively on the life of this world. They therefore cling with all their strength and passion to matters connected with worldly affairs, and attach themselves firmly to those who assist them in such matters. Like a Jewish jeweller mad enough to pay a thousand gold pieces for a piece of glass worth only a penny, they spend their precious time on matters that are in reality of little value and are regarded as worthless by those who follow the right path. Since they pay such a high price and cling to these insignificant matters with complete passion, which contains a kind of sincerity, they succeed in those matters and overcome those who follow the right path, even though they themselves are on a false path.

As a result of this defeat, those who follow the right path fall into abasement, degradation, and riyāDisplaying piety to impress others rather than seeking Allah’s pleasure; the opposite of ikhlās., losing their ikhlāsSincerity in worship, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pursuit of fame or status.. They are forced to bow before certain cowardly, contemptible, and base worldly-minded people.

O you who follow the right path! O righteous supporters of the SharīahThe body of Islamic laws and guidance, based on the Qur’an and the Sunnah, that prescribes the proper way of life; Islamic law., the haqīqahA spiritual path outside the formal framework of Sufism through which one is guided directly to spiritual perfection and realization of the truth., and the tarīqahA spiritual path within Sufism through which one is guided toward spiritual perfection under a system of spiritual training and discipline.! In order to cure this vile disease of discord, overlook one another’s faults, turn a blind eye to the shortcomings of your fellow brothers, and take as your guide the rule of conduct contained in the verse

وَاِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًاWhen they encounter idle talk, they pass by it with dignity. – The Quran 25:72

When attacked by external enemies, set aside your internal disputes and regard it as your foremost duty to protect those who follow the right path from decline and humiliation. Moreover, uphold the brotherhood, love, and cooperation that are powerfully commanded by hundreds of Qur’anic verses and narrations of the Prophet (saw)Sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam (Peace and blessings be upon him). Unite fully and wholeheartedly with those who serve Islam and with your Muslim brothers, and do not fall into disagreement.

When you find yourself in a situation where the unity between you and your Muslim brothers may be harmed, avoid entering such an atmosphere of dispute. Say instead, “Rather than spending my precious time on such small matters, I will spend it on more valuable acts such as the remembrance of Allah and reflection.” In our age, when there is a struggle between ideologies, a matter that appears insignificant may in reality be very important. Just as a soldier’s one-hour watch under certain difficult conditions may equal a year of worship, a single day spent in an apparently small service related to Islam, like that soldier’s hour, may increase a thousandfold in value. It is possible that one day of your effort may be equal to a thousand days.