another congregation of their own; the thing which would cause turmoil in the muslims’ unity which is indeed prohibited’. (1)

Commenting on Ash-Sh?fi‘? statements, Shaikh Ahmad Sh?kir said: ‘Im?m Ash-Sh?fi‘?’s view -which is truly correct- indicates the Im?m’s deep understanding, thorough realization and open mindedness to the essence of Isl?m and Shar?‘ah objectives; the first and the most important of which is uniting muslims and clustering their hearts towards one end; namely elevating All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) Word [i.e. Isl?m], and uniting the efforts to be directed to achieving this aim. This would be spiritually achieved through attending the congregation for Sal?t and straightening rows in it. This deep objective cannot be realized and understood but by those whom All?h ( - عز وجل -) endowed with spiritual light to understand the rulings of Religion and its blessings and objectives like Ash-Sh?fi‘?. Muslims have indeed witnessed the negative, destructive effects of establishing more than one congregation for Sal?t and the confusion this caused to their structure. Those who do not feel such a thing are indeed of those whom All?h ( - عز وجل -) effaced their hearts. Many people in many mosques abandon the original congregation, seeking the Sunnah as they falsely claim and hence creating other congregations believing that in such a way they would perform the Sal?t in a better manner than others. Were their claim true, they would loose their reward due to the sin they committed. Their belief of doing the Sunnah which other muslims may have abandoned would avail them naught.

Other people may even abandon [the general] muslims’ congregation and perform the Sal?t in mosques of their own the thing which causes harm to other muslims and excites disunity amongst muslims’ unity. We ask All?h’s ( - عز وجل -) refuge from this and ask Him for His guidance to enable us retain muslims’ unity. He is indeed the One who is Sam?‘ of our Du‘?’.

Due to the muslims’ carelessness in stopping such a practice and due to some people’s belief that conducting more than one