Al-‘Allamatul Muhaddith Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (hafizahullah) has, on many occasions, cautioned against disunity within the Muslim Ummah, particularly among the ‘Ulama. Recently [19 Rabi’ul Awwal 1447, 11/ 09/ 2025], Shaykh (hafizahullah) spoke once again on this subject, emphasizing the importance of unity of hearts among Muslims, no matter how far apart they may be in the world.
Shaykh (hafizahullah) said:
“May Allah unite the Muslims, their hearts especially! The hearts are what matter! For, Muslims have long been scattered in body.”
Scattered for Noble Purposes
Consider the legacy of Sayyidnuna Abu Ayyub al Ansariy (radiyallahu ‘anhu), Subhanallah what a great Sahabi he was, he was an Ansariy from Madinah Munawwarah, where is his Qabr? In Istanbul (Turkiye).
From among his descendants was: Imam Abu Mansur al Maturidiy (rahimahullah). Where is his Qabr? In Samarqand (Uzbekistan).
In Farangi Mahall (India), the scholarly lineage of his descendants: the Ayyubiy al Ansariy family, continued for five hundred years.
Among the last of them was Shaykh ‘Abdul Hayy al Laknawiy (rahimahullah), who passed away in India, and his cousin Shaykh Muhammad ʿAbdul Baqi al Ayyubiy al Ansariy, who passed away in Madīnah Munawwarah around 1363–1365 AH.
[Shaykh (hafizahullah) added:] When Allah first honored me with residing in Madinah Munawwarah, I met his nephew, Shaykh Haydar al Ayyubiy. While both, Shaykh ʿAbdul Baqi and his nephew Shaykh Haydar returned to Madinah Munawwarah [i.e., back to the home of their ancestor Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub (radiyallahu ‘anhu)], the Ayyubiy lineage thrived in Farangi Mahall for five centuries.
Physical Separation vs. Spiritual Division
The point is: the geographic separation of Muslims has long existed, but this was a physical separation, in the path of Allah, in jihad, in the pursuit of knowledge, and in trade.
May Allah unite the hearts of the Muslims, as this is most vital. Without it, we risk being torn apart by our enemies!
The disbelievers have long used the strategy of: “divide and conquer”.
فرِّق تَسُد
As I have mentioned several times in the past, this was the policy of the accursed Fir’awn.
﴿إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا﴾ [القصص: ٤]
“Indeed, Fir’awn exalted himself in the land and made its people into sects”
(Al Qasas, 4)
He divided the people until he was able to declare,
﴿فَقَالَ أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَى﴾ [النازعات: ٢٤]
“I am your supreme lord”
(An Nazi’at, 24)
نَسْألُ الله العافيةَ والسَّلامةَ، والفَرَجَ عَنْ أمةِ سيدنا محمدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم، اللّهُمَّ فرِّجْ يا رَب، مَع النَّصْرِ وبَياضِ الوجْه.
We seek Allah’s protection, safety and relief for the Ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). O Allah grant relief along with victory and honor.
So Near, Yet so Far
What benefit is there if we are neighbors, but our hearts are divided? Especially among the ‘Ulama! May Allah protect us.
There is a famous line of poetry our teachers often used to repeat:
عُلماءَ العَصْرِ يا مِلْحَ البَلَد … ما يُصْلِحُ المِلْحَ إذا المِلْحُ فَسَد
O ‘Ulama of the time/era, O salt of the land, what can refine the salt if the salt itself has gone bad?