MAJALAH AL-HIKMAH EDISI 3 | 2015

18 Etiquettes to invoke Differences among Muslims Taha Jabir listed down several important norms or etiquettes that guided the Companions. There are at least seven main points: (Ramadhan 1, 1437/ June 6, 2016) SAW had also warned the Muslims of the demise of the previous community that “the Israelites perished only be- cause of their excessive ques- tioning and their disputes over their prophets.” Indeed, Taha Jabir has outlined re- markable guidelines for Mus- lims to emulate so that they are aware of the consequenc- es of dispute. The major con- sequence would be is that the Muslims will never be united, and that personal interest due to political differences and circumstances, are preferable against the fundamentals in Islam. This has been the same during the time of al-Ghazālĩ since the split of intellectual and political leadership, Mus- lims were trembling with blind taqlid (imitation) and the conflict of sternness and sterility while looking for di- rections. This book The Eth- ics of Disagreement in Islam should be read by all so that the Muslims will not deprive of unity and brotherhood in spite of our many differences. May Allah bless his soul. Amin! 1) The first norm is to avoid differences in any matters as much as possible. 2) If, they were to differ, they would be firm in the view in so much that the conditions allowed them to do so, and not to transgress the limits. This is due as the intellectual quest was driven by the motive of Truth and correct judgment and thus anyone, without the feeling of embarrassment would admit their mistake and finally accepted the truth from any possible means. 3) Brotherhood is the main lesson that has been taught by the beloved Prophet SAW and religion of Islam. It should be preferred in any circumstances than the mere trivial differ- ences. 4) It is also very important to note that matters concerning the fundamental tenets of Islamic belief were not subject of disputation. 5) Consultation among the Companions are vital as to reach consensus. 6) The reciters of the Qur’an the jurists ( fuqahā’ ) played an important role in the so- ciety. They were given due reverence and were treated influential in the society, as much as the leaders. 7) Corrections of one’s judgment were regarded as a form of assistance and vir- tue (khair). They were not taken as a mere mistake . Conclusion From the above discussion, it is highlighted in Taha Jabir’s The Ethics of Disa- greement in Islam that Mus- lims should be aware of the threats of dispute. One of them, which has been warned by Ibn Mas`ud is that discord is evil, and therefore, forbidden in Is- lam. Similarly, the same message has been under- scored in the Qur’an when some people undertake dif- ferent views, “some of them attained to faith, while oth- ers came to deny the truth” (2:253). In fact, the Prophet