The Quran

Preface

۞ شَرَعَ لَكُم مِنَ الدّينِ ما وَصّىٰ بِهِ نوحًا وَالَّذي أَوحَينا إِلَيكَ وَما وَصَّينا بِهِ إِبراهيمَ وَموسىٰ وَعيسىٰ ۖ أَن أَقيمُوا الدّينَ وَلا تَتَفَرَّقوا فيهِ ۚ كَبُرَ عَلَى المُشرِكينَ ما تَدعوهُم إِلَيهِ ۚ اللَّهُ يَجتَبي إِلَيهِ مَن يَشاءُ وَيَهدي إِلَيهِ مَن يُنيبُ

Yusuf Ali

The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah -¹ the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein:² to those who worship other things than God, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them.³ God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

God’s Religion is the same in essence, whether given, for example, to Noah, Abraham, Moses, or Jesus, or to our Prophet. The source of unity is the revelation from God. In Islam it is “established” as an institution, and does not remain merely a vague suggestion.
Faith, Duty, or Religion, is not a matter to dispute about. The formation of sects is against the very principle of Religion and Unity. What we should strive for is steadfastness in duty and faith, and unity among mankind.
Unity, unselfishness, love for God and man?these things are inconsistent with selfish aggrandizement, unjust suppression of our fellow-creatures, false worship, and false conduct to our brethren. Hence the Gospel of Unity, though it is in complete accord with the pure pattern after which God made us, is yet hard to those who love self and falsehood. But Grace is free to all, and in His wise Plan. He will specially select Teachers to show the Way to humanity, and no one who turns to Him will lack guidance.