Would it really benefit us to turn a blind eye to all these differences for the sake of unity ?
Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatullahi
Assalamu Allaicum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu
No, it would not benefit us to turn a blind eye to all diferences that exist, but the opposite we would not do good when we know it is our duty to correct mistakes of those who make them and to guide them to correct understanding of Islam.
This means that we should not also "turn a blind eye" and not try to advice and guide those who Allah has put on our way for His sake InshAllah. The Muslims are suppose to try and increase love and harmony between each others.
And the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said when asked which believer in Islam is most excellent that, “One from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe” (Muslim).
It means that we should not only point on mistakes of others becouse this is the most easiest thing to do, but we should give our best in helping our brothers and sisters to correct them and stay on the right path, so that InshAllah Allah can be pleased with us on this and other world.
It may be that our brother or sister is ignorant of the ruling that it is prohibited. It may be that the knowledge and the evidence regarding that particular action being prohibited never reached the individual. So, rather than openly criticizing other Muslims, one should take the possibility that his brother in the deen may be ignorant of the ruling, which is a valid excuse.
It may be that that brother or sister is just weak in faith. And it may be that he/she is under certain circumstances, problems, concerns, etc. which one may not be aware of. We are not in their shoes and are not aware of the circumstances in their lives and why they are choosing to do a certain prohibited action. It may be that he/she feels bad in their heart but are not currently able to leave that prohibition either due to weak faith, certain circumstances, problems, and other possible scenarios. So a Muslim should always give his brother or sister the benefit of doubt before judging them.
In the hadith related by Tamim ad-Dari, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "The religion is naseehah." The people asked, "To whom?" The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) replied, "To Allaah and to His Book and to His Messenger and to the leaders of the Muslims and the common folk." [Collected by Bukhari, Muslim]
How many of us have looked to our brothers and sisters in Islam and have seen them straying from the path of Allaah, and have turned our faces away? How many of us have done nothing but judgeing them??? Is this the correct way to do, is this what Islam teaches us to do???
It is our duty to guiding them to what will bring them benefit in this life and in the Hereafter,to remove harm from them and bring them benefit,commanding them what is right and forbidding them what is wrong with gentleness and sincerity.
When a believer gives naseehah to his brother, he is disposing of the right that his brother has upon him. Just as you would not like to see a fault in yourself, and would work to remove it, likewise, you should not like to see that fault in your brother. You must hate to see in him what you hate to see in yourself, hence, you should give him naseehah to remove that fault as you would have liked to receive naseehah to have that fault removed from you. Give your brother naseehah and guide him toward goodness, and take him away from harm.
May Allah guide us all.Ameen
Wa Allaicumu Sallam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu
