QSI: The Seerah: Beginnings In The Madani Era; Ijtihaad In America

23: 52. And verily this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore be regardful of Me.

      53. But people have cut off their affair (of unity) between them into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself.

Mu'adh ibn Jabal states that when the Prophet (pbuh) sent him to Yemen, The Prophet (pbuh) asked:
"What will you do if a matter is referred to you for judgement?" Mu'adh said: "I will judge according to the Book of Allah." The Prophet asked: "What if you find no solution in the Book of Allah?" Mu'adh said: "Then I will judge by the Sunnah of the Prophet." The Prophet asked: "And what if you do not find it in the Sunnah of the Prophet?" Mu'adh said: "Then I will make Ijtihad to formulate my own judgement." The Prophet patted Mu'adh's chest and said "Praise be to Allah who has guided the messenger of His Prophet to that which pleases Him and His Prophet."[Abu Daud]

“The goal of our human life is intellectual liberation; to be a free thinker under G’d.” Imam W. D. Mohammed (ra)