How can divided Muslims become united again?

Not through shortcuts such as dropping names or a shared dictionary. Only God can create real unity, by sending someone who leads back to the original truth, and it grows among those who accept this guidance.

Many wish that Muslims would simply set their differences aside. But the divisions do not rest only on names. They rest on different convictions. As long as these remain, they cannot be removed by a shortcut. Dropping the names of the groups changes nothing about what they believe.

An example makes this clear. Some read in the Holy Qur’an that Jesus (as) did not die on the cross but lived a long life afterwards and died a natural death. Others believe that he is alive in heaven and will return. If someone says, let us become one for the sake of unity, the question remains which of these two convictions is then to hold. One cannot believe both at the same time.

History also shows that scholars have never agreed on a common teaching of their own accord. The verse above reminds us that the hearts of the first Muslims were joined together not by an agreement but by the grace of God. Real unity is a gift from God.

This is why Islam teaches that in times of division God sends someone who leads people back to the original truth. For our age, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah, came with this claim. Unity is born among those who accept this God-given guidance. It grows gradually, even against resistance, until it embraces more and more people.