Need some advice how to deal with Muslim community that come from different madhhab

Question:

I am an imam in the US and I am facing problems with the community here because if I did something, some may like this way while others not. The community here follows different madhhabs and sects and some of them are very critical to everything that is different from the madhhab they follow. Please advice what can be done in this problematic situation?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

My dear brother,

The messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said,
"Allah never sent a prophet except that he raised sheep"

This is a preparation by Allah to teach them the quality of gentleness, patience and forbearance. You will need those qualities for the rest of your life as an imam of a masjid and a shepherd of a community, so make sure you continue to acquire those qualities and enhance them.

I advise myself and you to:
Never discredit any advice before you thoroughly study it and pass it though the test of the Qur'an and Sunnah according to the practice of the greatest generations and the great imams, including the four founders of the madhahib.

Know that in Islam, there is no papal hierarchy, and even though, it may seem at times that this may lead to anarchy, it is of the greatest beauties of Islam, which came to liberate human intellect and bring down all barriers between man and his Lord. So, be patient with your community.

Increase your knowledge, for this religion of ours is evidence based, and the authority is for the text of revelation, and you will be able to guide your community better, and have them listen to you more if you arm yourself with the sublime guidance of the revelation.

Also, knowing the various opinions of the scholars will help broaden your spectrum and allow you to see the point in their ijtihad (expert reasoning).

Then, you may choose one opinion, but you will be tolerant of others, as long as they are founded on correct methodology of deduction.

Know that you can't please all people, but you can most verily please Allah, so look ahead and try your best and you will find a merciful judge when you arrive.

May Allah give you resolve, and may He greatly reward you!

Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: Islamonline.net