The Prophet ﷺ said: He who separates from the community within a span takes off the noose of Islam from his neck.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَنْ فَارَقَ الْجَمَاعَةَ شِبْرًا فَقَدْ خَلَعَ رِبْقَةَ الإِسْلاَمِ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ  

How will you deal with the rulers (imams) who appropriate to themselves this booty? I said : I swear by him who sent you with the truth that at that time I shall put my sword on my shoulder and smite with it till I meet you, or I join you. He said: shall I not guide you to something better than that? You must show endurance till you meet me.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ وَأَئِمَّةٌ مِنْ بَعْدِي يَسْتَأْثِرُونَ بِهَذَا الْفَىْءِ قُلْتُ إِذًا وَالَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ أَضَعُ سَيْفِي عَلَى عَاتِقِي ثُمَّ أَضْرِبُ بِهِ حَتَّى أَلْقَاكَ أَوْ أَلْحَقَكَ قَالَ أَوَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى خَيْرٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ تَصْبِرُ حَتَّى تَلْقَانِي  

The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) said: You will have commanders some of whom you will approve and some of whom you will disapprove. He who expresses disapproval with his tongue (Abu Dawud said : This is Hisham’s version) is guiltless; and he who feels disapproval in his heart, is safe, but he who is pleased and follows them. He was asked; shall we not kill them, Messenger of Allah? Abu Dawud’s version has : Shall we not fight with them? He replied : No, so long as they pray.  

عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَتَكُونُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَئِمَّةٌ تَعْرِفُونَ مِنْهُمْ وَتُنْكِرُونَ فَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ  

He who disapproves is guiltless, and he who disapproves is safe. Qatadah said : it means one who feels its disapproval in his heart, and one who expresses disapproval in his heart.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ فَمَنْ كَرِهَ فَقَدْ بَرِئَ وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ فَقَدْ سَلِمَ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ يَعْنِي مَنْ أَنْكَرَ بِقَلْبِهِ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ بِقَلْبِهِ  

various corruptions will arise in my community, so strike with sword the one who tries to cause separation in the matter of Muslims when they are united, whoever he be.  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ سَتَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي هَنَاتٌ وَهَنَاتٌ وَهَنَاتٌ فَمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُفَرِّقَ أَمْرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَهُمْ جَمِيعٌ فَاضْرِبُوهُ بِالسَّيْفِ كَائِنًا مَنْ كَانَ