DISCORD AND DISUNITY:
ITS CAUSES AND PREVENTION
by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani
From the beginning of time, mankind has been in constant
pursuit of peace and happiness. Inner peace remains the
most sought-after asset in the entire world. Alhamdulilah,
as Muslims we are all well-aware of the fact that absolute
peace and tranquillity lies in truly abiding by the teachings
of the Messenger s and following the commandments of
Allah.
People blessed with this divine gift of inner peace will certainly
be blessed with Jannah in the Hereafter, but they also
lead a blissful life in this world that is equivalent to heaven
on earth only because they possess the invaluable fortune
of tranquillity and inner peace. Despite the apparent challenges
and tribulations of this world, these people are in a
perpetual state of inner-peace, and no amount of worldly
pleasures can supplement this inner peace which remains
the ultimate pursuit of mankind in this ephemeral world.
Allah has made this soothing tranquility freely available
for all. An appropriate example would be of sunlight that is
freely available and accessible for all to utilize. An individual
complaining about the lack of peace and mental
satisfaction is like an individual who locks himself in a dark
room with no windows and complains about the prevailing
darkness. As sunlight is openly accessible for all, same is
the case with peace and tranquillity. It’s just that we need to
break through the darkness-inducing boundaries around
them.
It is equally important to consider the constraints that limit
access to this divine gift of calmness. What is the reason
behind all the dominant anxiety and unrest people face?
Humans struggle to find an answer to this question while
the answer is rather straightforward. It is our own set of
wrong habits, misleading actions, and disruptive attitudes
that lead us into this swampland of anxiety.
The Primary Cause of Disunity: Sins
Sins, wrongdoings, and transgressions are major contributors
to the absence of peace. These acts take us further
away from divine light and guidance. Allah says in the
Qur’an:
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed,
he will have a depressed life, and We will resurrect him on
the Day of Resurrection blind”(20:124).
The message of Allah is clear: those individuals who ignore
the commandments of Allah are guaranteed to fall into
unrest, distress, and conflict. Conversely, a person with
Allah’s remembrance in his heart will be at ease and at
peace despite all the apparent sufferings, discomforts, and
afflictions. The amount of restlessness and distress a person
will experience will vary in accordance to the degree of
transgression and sin. The more the transgression, the
higher discomfort and anxiety a person will experience.
The story of Ka’b bin Malik g is a perfect example to illustrate
this point. He had everything one could want, but due
to a mistake he made in not fulfilling the commandment
of the Messenger s, he was deprived of peace. The Qur’an
refers to the incident in the following verses:
“And (He accepted the repentance) of the three individuals
whose matter was deferred until when the earth was
constricted for them despite all its vastness, and even their
own souls were constricted for them, and they realized
that there is no refuge from Allah, except in Him, then He
turned towards them, so that they may repent. Surely, Allah
is the Most-Relenting, the Very Merciful (9:118).”
The Second Cause of Disunity: Arguments
The second cause of disunity is inner-fighting and petty
arguments. Mutual disagreements lead to a feeling of
uneasiness. People who are not accustomed to retaliating
and aggressive behavior are particularly sensitive to such
arguments. This sensitivity is compounded if the argument
occurs with a near and dear one. Even a slight lack of
attention from a dear one is instantly realized. Therefore,
it is natural that mutual conflicts lead to disturbance and
anxiety.
Mutual disagreements and backbiting erase good deeds
akin to how a razor shaves a head completely bald. People
involved in defamation, mudslinging, and character
assassination, eventually lead themselves to depression. It
6 November – December 2021 | AL-MADINAH