In this day and age, every Muslim should try his best to patch up the rift in the body of the Muslim Ummah at least by avoiding all routes and channels that may lead to divisions, differences and conflicts.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “The People of the Book divided in their religion into seventy-two groups and this Ummah will divide into seventy-three groups, all of which are destined for hell-fire but one, which is the Group (al-Jama`ah).” (Reported by Ahmad and Abu Dawud).
Concerning the Naqshabanditariqah, we would like to cite the following:
The Naqshabanditriqah (order) can be traced back to Sheik Baha’ Ad-Deen Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Al-Bukhari who is well-known as “Shah Naqshaband“. Like most Sufi Orders, the Naqshabandi one is abundant with good and right facets. Unfortunately, there are some sorts of innovations and deviations from the right and straight path of Islam. Here, we should state that all Muslims must stick to worshipping Allah alone without ascribing others to Him as partners. One should also set the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as a guide and exemplary model in all aspects of life.
As for the dispersion and scattering into various groups and religious sects being witnessed nowadays through the Muslim Ummah, all this can be attributed to man’s independent opinions or judgments. It is a well-known fact that man errs and makes mistakes although he intends to do only what is good and sound. Imam Malik, may Allah forgive him, said: “Everyone after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) will have his sayings accepted or rejected – not so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Also, Imam Abu Hanifah said: “It is not permitted for anyone to accept our views if he does not know from where we got them. For we are mortals: we say one thing one day, and take it back the next.”
Imam Ash-Shafi`i said: “If you find in my writings something different from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then speak on the basis of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and leave what I have said.” Imam Ahmed also said: “The opinion of Awza`i, the opinion of Malik, and the opinion of Abu Hanifah: all of these are mere opinions, and they are all equal to me. However, the proof is in the narrations (from the Prophet and his Companions).” Thus, those Imams and all other earlier scholars recommended, or (to put it in another word) ordered their followers and students to magnify the Sunnah, abide by it, and give it precedence. The same is applicable to all the Sufi Orders and others as well. In addition, the prominent men from among the Sufis such as Ibrahim Ibn Ad-ham and Al-Junaid advised their followers saying: “This knowledge of ours is bound to Allah’s Book and the Prophet’s Sunnah.”
Indeed, countless deviations have been witnessed through Islamic history. We are neither asked by Allah, nor His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to follow or adopt these deviations. We are only ordered to obey Him and follow the very steps of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Again, man’s independent opinions or judgments cannot stand as a proof against Allah’s Book or His Prophet’s Sunnah.