Muslims follow the same Qur’an but are divided into many sects

From: http://islam.thetruecall.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=214

1. Muslims Should be United
It is a fact that Muslims today, are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy is that such divisions are not endorsed by Islam at all. Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its followers.
As is mentioned in The Glorious Qur’an
"And hold fast,All together, by the ropeWhich Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;"The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 103
Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.
Qur’an further says,
"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger" The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 4, Verse 59
All the Muslim should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not divided among themselves.

2. It is Prohibited to make sects and divisions in Islam

The Glorious Qur’an says:
"As for those who divideTheir religion and break upInto sects, thou hastNo part in them in the least:Their affair is with Allah:He will in the end Tell them the truthOf all that they did."The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 6, Verse 159
In this verse Allah (swt) says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.
But when one asks a Muslim, "Who are you?", the common answer is either ‘I am a Sunni, or ‘I am a Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafi or Maliki or Humbali. Some say ‘I am a Deobandi’, while some others say ‘I am a Barelvi’.

3. Our Prophet was a Muslim

One may ask such Muslims, "Who was our beloved Prophet (pbuh)? Was he a Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Humbali or a Maliki?"No! He was a Muslim, like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.
It is mentioned in chapter 3 verse 52 of The Holy Qur’an that Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.
Further, in chapter 3 verse 67, The Holy Qur’an says that Ibrahim (pbuh) was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim.

4. Qur’an says call yourselves Muslim

If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say "I am a MUSLIM, not a Hanafi or a Shafi". Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 33 says
"Who is better in speechThan one who calls (men)To Allah, works righteousness,And says, ‘I am of thoseWho bow in Islam (Muslim)?’"The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 41, Verse 33.
The Qur’an says "Say I am of those who bow in Islam". In other words, say, "I am a Muslim".
The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non-Muslim kings and rulers inviting them to accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse of the Qur’an from Surah Ali Imran chapter 3 verse 64:
Say ye: "Bear witnessThat we (at least)Are Muslims (bowing To Allah’s Will)."The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3, Verse 64.

5. Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam

We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imaams, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Humbal and Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with them all). They were great scholars and may Allah reward them for their research and hardwork. One can have no objection if someone agrees with the views and research of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Shafi, etc. But when posed a question, ‘Who are you?’, the reply should only be ‘I am a Muslim’.

6. One Community:

Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet from Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4579. In this hadith the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My community will be split up into seventy-three sects."
This hadith reports that the prophet predicted the emergence of seventy-three sects. He did not say that Muslims should be active in dividing themselves into sects. The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to create sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, and do not create sects are the people who are on the true path.
According to Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171, the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects, and all of them will be in Hell fire except one sect." The companions asked Allah’s messenger which group that would be. Where upon he replied, "It is the one to which I and my companions belong."
The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, "Obey Allah and obey His Messenger". A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long as they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. If such views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then they carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.
If only all Muslims read the Qur’an with understanding and adhere to Sahih Hadith, Inshallah most of these differences would be solved and we could be one united Muslim Ummah.
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Blogger Comment:
The message of God to the believers is simple one God and one religion: submission to God. In the time of Jesus (PBUH) Christians were one sect. Then after his ascent to heaven they divided, same apply to Jews before them and Muslims after them. When God tell us we will be sects that does not mean that we should do that, his order is to follow only one and true religion. But because he knew the future he can tell us what we will be like. The thing he told us about for sure in Islam and Christianity is that after Jesus descent we will be one sect only. Since there is high probability this is happening in few years we should work on that right now.