I have a Christian friend who wants to become a Muslim and he is fully convinced of Islam. But he is confused between the different schools of Fiqh. I am aware that adherence to the Sunnah is the way to be safe from Hell, but I do not know how to explain this to him. Please advise.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

You should explain Islam to this Christian and endear it to him, based on the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet .

Explain to him that Allaah preserved His Book and that He also preserved the Sunnah of His Messenger by appointing intelligent scholars to sort what is authentic and inauthentic. Let him know that Muslims must refer to these two pure sources, and this is the only way for salvation and protection from error.

The man should also be instructed to enter Islam first and come closer to Allaah The Almighty, without getting busy himself with the disagreements among Muslim scholars in jurisprudential matters. He should not be distracted by the negligence of the Muslims or their lack of observance. Indeed, there is a wide gap between Islam, with its sublime principles, and the behavior and negligence of some Muslims.

However, there are some disagreements that are not harmful, such as disagreements based on 'Ijtihaad (personal reasoning) and arguing over issues that are open to discussion, provided that there is no text (from the Quran or Sunnah) or consensus.

An example of this kind is the disagreement between different schools of Fiqh (jurisprudence), although they agree on the basics of the religion. On the other hand, there is an unacceptable kind of disagreement, such as the contradiction of some sects to the doctrine of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa'ah.

Finally, a non-Muslim would find true happiness if Allaah guides him to Islam at the hands of a man of sound belief. Therefore, make sure you get some useful short and simple books that explain the creed of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jamaa'ah and use them in calling this man to Allaah. You have to know that it is not permissible to befriend or have affection towards disbelievers, though we may be kind and just with them, call them to Islam and hope for their guidance.

Allaah Knows best.