Shaykh Muhammad bin Saaleh al-‘Uthaymeen [may Allaah have Mercy on him] said:
It is upon the Muslims, and in particular the students of knowledge, to remain united as much as they are able to. Because the aspirations of the people of sin and deviation is to create disunity upon the people that are upon goodness. They know that there is no weapon that is more dangerous than causing indifference between them.
Moosaa [Peace be upon him] told the magicians that he was sent to invite (who were disbelievers at that time):
""Woe unto you! Invent not a lie against Allah, lest He should destroy you completely by a torment. And surely, he who invents a lie (against Allah) will fail miserably." Then they debated with one another what they must do, and they kept their talk secret." [Taa-Haa 20:61-62]
So when they differed (and innovated) they became divided and as a consequence, their solidarity was lost.
Nowadays, we witness a cause of differing and splitting caused by some of the brothers. They are eager to follow the Sunnah in this issue (of praying eleven for Taraaweeh) and in other issues (of Ijtihaad) also, but use their enthusiasm to create disunity between the Muslims. I say this in itself contrary to the Sunnah and contrary to the objectives of the Sharee’ah – to create unity between the Muslims and cohesion within the Ummah.
Praise be to Allaah, praying more than eleven (and other matters which are subject to Ijtihaad) is not something Haraam or something that needs to be shunned; rather it is an opinion which is subject to Ijtihaad.
This all creates disunity and enmity in the hearts of the Muslims, causing them to hate and mock one another, just because they differed in their opinion.
Therefore it is obligatory to maintain the state of unity between the Muslims as much as we are able to.
To the extent that following the Imaam in Duaa’ Khatm al-Quraan is not blameworthy. It has been narrated that Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah be Pleased with him] Duaa’ Khatm al-Quraan, and others from the people of knowledge, were of the opinion that it is recommended to make Dua’a upon completing the Quraan before one makes Rukoo’. We say, there is nothing to prove this from the Sunnah; however, as long as this is Ijtihaad from an Imaam then we must respect it as it is his Ijtihaad. Irrespective of whether his Ijtihaad is right or wrong; as long as he isn’t calling us to do something which is outright Haraam. How can we strip people of knowledge, or label them, or accuse them of mistake or brand them as innovators merely because we don’t agree with their opinion!?
As long as you have no option but the person you are praying behind does this, then there is no harm in following him in this.
Let’s take the example of an Imaam on how they dealt with differences of opinion and the importance of unity. Imaam Ahmad [may Allaah have Mercy on him] was of the opinion that making Dua’a al-Qunoot behind the Imaam in the Fajr prayer is an innovation, however he issued a Fatwaa saying that if one is praying behind an Imaam who believes it to be Sunnah to make Dua’a al-Qunoot in the Fajr prayer, then pray behind him and even more; say Ameen to his Dua’a.
All of this is in order to uphold the sense of unity between Muslims, unified with one heart and to block any path that leads to hatred of one another.
[ash-Sharh al-Mumti’ (4/63-64)]
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