It is reported that Abī Qilābah (rahimahullāh) said:
“If some information reaches you about your brother which you dislike, then search for an excuse for him. And if you do not find an excuse for him, then say: “Maybe he has an excuse which I have no knowledge of.”
Rawdatul Uqalā page 184
Unity is based on the Book and the Sunnah and not bidah. We do not look for a common enemy and unite against him… because as soon as we overcome him, we will start to fight amongst ourselves.
Some of The Basis of Success In Every Ummah
Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] said:
None violates the honour of the scholars who are upon the truth, except one of three [people]: Either a hypocrite known for [his] hypocrisy, or an evil sinner who hates the scholars because they prevent him from his sinful [acts] of disobedience, or a misguided hizbi who hates the scholars because they neither agree with his hizbiyyah nor with his deviated views.
Al-Ajwibah Al-Mufeedah page 51 and Muhaadaraat Fil Aqeedah Wad-Dawa 2/190]
Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu-anhu) said:
Certainty is that you neither please the people to displease Allaah nor envy anyone for the provision Allaah has given him, nor blame anyone for what Allaah has not given you; because Allaah’s provision will neither come to you through the eagerness of the one [who wants it to come to you] nor will it be repelled by the dislike of the one who dislikes that [it should be given to you].
[Jaami-ul Uloom Wal-Hikam: page: 308]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Reminder to the advisers
Firstly, advice should be accompanied with sincerity – free from all ulterior motives. Imaam As-Sadi [rahimahullaah] said: ”Among the benefits of Naseehah (sincere advice) is that it is a safeguard against deceit, for indeed whoever deceives the Muslims in their Religious and Worldly Affairs is not from them. Deceit is among the most repugnant of traits in relation to (fulfilling) the rights of a relative, a non-relative, the person who opposes you and the one in agreement. The Great Qur’aan calls to this quality (i.e. sincere advice), which is from the best of qualities. Indeed, giving sincere advice to every individual is praiseworthy in the divine Islamic Law and it is something in agreement with (sound) intellect and natural disposition. And what is in opposition to it is regarded repulsive in the divine Islamic Law and in opposition to (sound) intellect and natural disposition. [Ref 1]
Secondly, do not be opinionated when you give advice or make requests on behalf of others. Ibn Hazm [rahimahullaah] said: Offer not advice only on condition that it will be accepted nor intercede [on behalf of someone] only on the condition that [your intercession] should be accepted. Do not give a gift on the condition that [you will] receive something in return; rather do so only due to seeking after virtue and to fulfil that which is obligated on you that you should give advice, intercede [on behalf of someone] and to do good. [Ref 2]
Reminder to those who receive the advice – Be Humble When Advice Reaches You
Fudayl Ibn Iyaad [rahimahullaah] said: ”Humility is that you humble yourself to the truth and accept it from the one who says it. Humility is that you accept truth, even if heard from a child or the most Jaahil person. [Ref 3]
[Ref 1: Source: Abridged & slightly paraphrased. Source: Fat’hul Raheemil Malikil Allaam Fee Ilmil Aqaa-id Wat-Tawheed, Wal Akhlaaq, Wal Ahkaam. Page: 98. Slightly paraphrased]
[Ref 2: Al-akhlaaq Was-Siyar 122’ by Ibn Hazm (rahimahullaah). slightly paraphrased]
Ref 3: Madaarj As-Saalikeen 2/342
Al- Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali (may Allaah preserve him) stated:
And that one who does not know the books of refutations, even if he has memorized of knowledge all that is to be memorized, then indeed – may Allaah bless you – he is (still) on an unstable position. We have seen many who know, but then they fell into misguidance…. The full translation with audio is available here:
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Muhammad Ibn Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah] said:
The heart of the caller [i.e. the caller to Islaam upon sound knowledge, clear-sightedness, wisdom, etc] should be relaxed towards the one who opposes him, especially if he knows that the one who opposes him has a good intention and has not opposed him except to establish the evidence he possesses; therefore, it is obligated on a person to be flexible in these affairs. He should not make this differing a cause for enmity and hatred, except against a man who opposes the [truth] obstinately after the truth has been made clear to him, but he carries on upon his falsehood; then indeed it is obligatory to deal with him [in a manner] he deserves-by alienating him and warning the people about him- because his enmity manifested after the truth has been made manifest to him and [refuses] to follow it. [1]
[1] [Source: (Zaad Ad-Daa’iyah Ilal laah’ page 27). Slightly paraphrased]
Articles to detail the above affair:
http://www.salaficentre.com/2015/05/a-misunderstanding-regarding-the-statement-laa-inkaar-fee-masaail-al-khilaaf-there-should-be-no-repudiation-in-the-affairs-of-khilaaf-i-e-differing/
http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=9&Topic=12294
http://www.abukhadeejah.com/ahlus-sunnah-do-not-divide-that-is-the-methodolology-of-the-salaf/
A guest eats what the host is able to provide and not what he expects to eat.
Tafsir Surah Al- Ahzaab:53 by Al Qurtbi (rahimahullah)
Al Awzaaee said: If Allah wishes evil for a people, He opens for them the door of argumentation and prevents them from action.
Siyar 7/121