*"Learn from Imam Shafi'i: The Etiquette of Disagreement"*
One of Imam Shafi'i's students was named Yunus. This student happened to disagree with his teacher, Imam Shafi'i, on a certain matter. After expressing his disagreement, the student stood up in anger, left the class incomplete that day, left his lesson unfinished, and went home!
When night fell, there was a knock on Yunus's door.
Hearing the knock, when he opened the door, Imam Shafi'i was standing in front of him. He was deeply astonished to see him outside his house at this hour of the night…
Imam Shafi'i said: "O Yunus! Hundreds of matters unite us, and only a single issue divides us." ..
"O Yunus, do not try to win over your fellow believers in every disagreement.. Sometimes 'winning hearts' is more important than 'winning an argument or debate'!"
"O Yunus, do not destroy those precious relationships that you have built with others during pleasant moments, for one day you may need to return to those very companions."
"I always hate the 'error'... but I do not hate the 'one who makes the error'."
"And detest the 'sin' from your heart... but forgive the 'sinner' and show mercy to them…"
"O Yunus, criticize 'what is being said', but respect and honor the 'one who is saying it'..."
"Our mission is to eliminate the 'diseases'… not to eliminate the 'sick'.-"
