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Magnificence of Islam lies in Islamic Unity
Source:
Islamic Unity, in the Light of Speeches of the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Hazrat Ayatullah al-Uzma Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Compiled by Hujatul Islam wal Muslimeen Ali Khaliqpur
The Shia Sunni unity doesn’t mean to abandon one’s belief and norms. Every religion and faith has a right to give reverence to its values but it doesn’t mean that this reverence tantamount to disrespect and impudence to the norms and values of other groups. The number of common points is much more than the issues of differences between US (Muslims). Therefore keeping in view the common issues there is a need to take steps which is in our interest.
Those who raise the slogan of unity and harmony between Muslims, they are not the enemies of Muslims; instead they are their well-wishers and are longing for grace and honour for all the Muslims. What would be his interest that different religious groups in Islamic society may confront each other and may cause harm to each other and on the other the enemy would take them aback and make them to confront each other and may watch them and take advantage of the opportunity. Is it good?
We say that Shia and Sunni need to go along together i.e., Shia may remain Shia and Sunni as Sunni. When have we asked to Ahlul Sunnah that by unity we mean that you should convert as Shia. We have not talked so. If someone wants to become Shia, he can but on the basis of academics and academic deliberations. They too are free to do their job. We never talked about changing one’s religion. We say that Shia and Sunni should understand well as by the grace of God it has been observed in our country during Islamic revolution. We should not provide an opportunity for the enemy for any disadvantage and this is the objective of celebrating of unity week too.
The writer who writes down his feelings and emotions, though it may strengthen his faith and belief and the belief and emotions what he writes, if it tantamount to hamper the feelings and faith of the opposite sect, he should understand that what would be its results. He has to understand that by promoting enmity and differences who is benefited by it?
There are one Arab Muslims in the world, who believe in one God, Prophet, Prayers, Hajj, Ka’ba, Quran and practice all religious laws with some exceptions. They have some differences too. Now if some people would come and may take up some controversial issues and start quarreling and those who are totally against God, Prophet and the religion would get their job done. Is it logical?
If the Muslims would be united, and may cooperate and coordinate with each other, though they are having different beliefs but may not become puppets in the hands of enemy, it may bring glory to the world of Islam. In that case is it possible for America and others that they may dare to establish their bases in Islamic countries and endanger the sovereignty of Islamic countries and Islamic nations?
Repeating of Past Differences – An Obstacle in the Way of Unity
If we want to make the unity to come into existence, we need to detach ourselves from the past. The unity means that the followers of both the sects have to live like brothers and have the feeling of brethren. However, it doesn’t mean that Shia may convert to Sunni and Sunni may become Shia. No Sir, it is not so. The unity means feeling of brethren and the person on the opposite side may feel that he too is a Muslim and may have the feeling of responsibility for being a Muslim and other may also have the same feeling. I always use to say that if we want to do this job then we have to detach ourselves from the past. If we may look at the past, there is apprehension of conflict. The past too is full of differences, battles and conflicts and the massacre that if we may look at it there is again apprehension of confliction. If someone sincerely wants that people may live in a brotherly atmosphere for the sake of God, then he should not try to remind the past, otherwise if he may bring the book “Ihqaq-ul-Haq” and may show it and other person too may bring “Tuhfe-y-Ithna Ashariyeh” and may expose it. The people of both the sides have written myriad of books based on blames and satires. If we may return to the past, we cannot achieve unity. We have to see and should say that past is past. ÑóÍöãó ÇááøٰÀõ ãóÚúÔóÑó ÇáúãóÇÖöیúäó (May Allah have mercy over the past people). We have nothing to do with their activities. If they have said something in the past then today we have to act according to our obligations ÈóیúäóäóÇ æó Èóیúäó ÇááøٰÀö ‘keeping in view our obligation before God’. We have to perform unity in terms of ÈóیúäóäóÇ æó Èóیúäó ÇááøٰÀö ‘our obligations before Allah’. If we are going to act upon it then we have to abandon our past.
The Difference of Islamic Sects should not Come Down to the Level of Non-academics
Hazrat Ayatullah Uzma Sayyid Ali Khamenei describes a very important point for making the unity to come into existence and that is that these differences should not come down to the level of non-academics. The deliberations about differences need to be made in the academic circles. Accordingly one should avoid adopting emotional and aggressive tune over differences, which is not correct, as it will not lessen the differences instead get it enhanced. This will not pave way for solution of the obstacle. It is because of this that the enemy always tries to turn the differences into emotional atmosphere to exploit it more and more and it will be easier for them to blow harder on the structure of Muslim Ummah.
It is natural that there is difference between the supporters of two beliefs on the basis of prejudice. It doesn’t pertain to Shia and Sunni sects only. Even this is already true within Shia and Sunnis too. If you may reveal the history, it will be observed that the jurisprudential and fundamental differences are found even among Asha'ira, Hanabilah, Ahnaf and Shafe'ie and Maliki etc. who are Ahlul Sunnah. This difference is seen even among Shia too. However, when this difference comes down to the level of general masses, the situation turns terrible. The people turn violent and ulama sit to talk and the topic comes under discussion. However, when the situation becomes so that this thing comes to the people, who are not much knowledgeable and well versed, they put their emotions, differences, material sources on the stake, which is dangerous. It has always happened so in the world and the Believers and well-wishers are always trying to stop it. The ulama and the great personalities have always tried that no conflict comes into existence among the non-academic people. But from some time some people have made their entrance in this case, who are called ‘Imperialists’. We don’t want to say that there has always been the hand of imperialistic elements in Shia Sunni conflict. It is not so, there is influence of their own emotions too. The ignorance, unawareness, inadequate prejudices and feelings and misunderstandings of the people have also played an effective role in it. However when imperialism stepped in it exploited it as a tool.
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