The Methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah in uniting the Ummah

Indeed, explanation of uniting the word of the Muslims and unifying their rank as ‎well as warning them against splitting and differing has come in detail with the ‎utmost clarity and the clearest elucidation within the Book of Allaah and the ‎Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). So there is no ‎resistance for Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, the people of the truth and ‎uprightness, from that which has come within the Book of Allaah and the ‎Sunnah. They follow it wherever it goes, in negation and affirmation (i.e., negating ‎that which it negates and affirming that which it affirms). As Imaam Al-Awzaa’ee, ‎may Allaah have mercy upon him, stated:
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‎“We follow the Sunnah wherever it goes.”

These are Ahlus-Sunnah in truth and its true supporters. They follow the Sunnah ‎wherever it goes. So that which has come within the Book of Allaah and the ‎Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) they establish it and enact ‎it in the most perfect and complete manner. That which is not within them then ‎they abandon it and warn against it with the utmost caution. This is the affair of ‎Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, the people of the truth for whom the Messenger of ‎Allaah attested to as having victory and salvation.‎
On this basis, it is befitting for us that if we want a solution for this dilemma—‎which is the separation that has befallen and taken place between the Muslims—‎that we do not seek for its solution in other than the Book and the Book of Allaah ‎and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). ‎
The occurrence of separation and differing is an affair which Allaah, the Blessed ‎and High, has decreed, universally as well as from the perspective of the ‎preordainment, although He is not pleased with it, Blessed and Exalted be He; ‎legislatively and religiously. The Truthful one who is believed (sallallahu alayhi wa ‎sallam) has informed regarding that it would occur before it happened. He said, ‎within the authentic Hadeeth:‎
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“Indeed my nation will be divided into 73 groups; all of them in the Fire ‎except one.”‎