“Majority of Shia Sunni scholars demand Islamic unity.”
Prominent Lebanese cleric stressed the demand of Shia Sunni clerics for unity, talks and religious convergence expressing regret that the voice of intriguers and seditionists has overcome that of the public.
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According to Iran’a Mehr News Agency, Egypt’s Sheikh Ahmad al Tayyeb, Dean of Al Azhar University in 30 programs on Shia Sunni disagreements televised in the country has demanded for some meetings where the scholars of both denominations to sit for discussions on the differences in a bid to find ways for peaceful coexistence. During these programs he has elaborated on the status of Shia and Sunni in the world of Islam calling them as the wings of the Muslim world which should move in full cooperation. The cleric has also announced preparation of Al Azhar to hold a conference attended by renowned Muslim scholars in order to discuss ways to decrease bloodshed, violence and religious provocations.
As an answer to the call, grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, top Iranian Shia jurisprudent, has sent a letter to the Sunni Egyptian cleric announcing the enthusiasm of the Shia jurisprudents for realization of Shia Sunni unity and abhor any desecrating move against the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) or his household. Iranian senior cleric has also welcomed the proposal for a joint conference between Shia Sunni scholars. To discuss the peoposal by Egyptian scholar and the correspondents between both clerics, Iran’s Mehr News Agency has had an exclusive interview with Sheikh Hashem Minkara, Lebanese cleric and head of Al Tawhid Organization, discussing Shia Sunni ties, reasons for highlights on radical talks and also marginalization of moderate views supporting Islamic unity.
Q: In your view what is the reason that Sheikh Ahmad al Tayyeb has sent this message for Shia clerics at this time?
A: Islamic unity is an idea towards which all enthusiast hearts are absorbed and an objective for realization of which all Muslim reformist have struggled. Honor and glory of Islam is not achieved unless with Islamic unity. The unity that Islamic invites all is not meant for embellishment or meeting their material demands rather it is a pillar of their belief and a mandate for their religious ideologies.
When, according to the holy book of Islam, Muslims are ordered to maintain talks, then the necessity of intrafaith dialogue in order to achieve solidarity among Muslims. At present, the dispersion, disagreement and disrespect of the Muslims towards each other has led to weakening and disintegration of Muslims to the point that the enemies have invaded them from all sides; therefore, we have to know that before any discussion on Shia and Sunni as Islamic denominations it is Islam by itself which matters the most.
We think that a call for a conference by Shia and Sunni clerics for a dialogue on Islamic unity is a necessity for all times; therefore, the invitation by Al Azhar and the answer by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi is a constant demand of the Muslim world. The necessity of Islamic unity is highlighted amid the present tensions, surging violence in the world of Islam and substitution of Palestine issue with the domestic clashes in the world of Islam.
In this line, it seems that the aftermaths of this disagreement for the issue of Palestine had been foreseen by late Imam Khomeini (RA); hence, the late leader had called for special attention to the issue of Palestine stressing that as the root cause of all issues and the freedom of Al Quds as the highest objective in the world of Islam and that the issues be set high on the agenda of all Muslim nations. Certainly the present pain for the Islamic Ummah (nation) is that the rulers ignore the objectives of Palestine marginalizing that from their agenda because had these nations and their rulers were determined, then with the least effort and a minimum funding, they could have uprooted the tumor of Zionist regime from Islamic nation.
Importance of such invitations lies in uplifting the street fights, which have no result except for deepening of the disagreements to the level of talks between scholars in academic ambiances.
A deep look into the present incidents proves that there are hands which are busy marginalizing the scholars opening the arena for cheap incapable people. We are witness to media trying to disperse the people with the help of media. The invitation by Ahmad Al Tayyeb was proposed in a bid to alleviate the tensions and we hope that it turns to a step to unblock the path to Islamic unity.
Q: How do you find the stance of Shia scholars for Islamic unity?
A: The great enthusiasm of the Muslim clerics for maintaining the honor and origin of Islam is quite clear and the invitation of Shia Sunni scholars for solidarity among Muslims has a historical background though unfortunately the outcry of the deviate voices has overcome that of the clerics. While Shia and Sunni scholars call all to dialogue, unity and convergence, the voices by intriguers are better heard.
Such a unity is also demanded by most of the Sunni scholars. The only difference is that the stance of Shia scholars have strengthened in a post revolution era and their position has been stabilized as a religious institution though such an opportunity has not been given to the Sunni scholars; therefore, those responsible for Sunni leadership in governments are in fact followers of the politicians and that means following the policy of the US in the region and the world.
Q: What is the necessity of Shia Sunni unity at present?
A: Necessity of Islamic unity is highlighted when we note that Shia Sunni intriguers have targeted the religion of Islam and in case Islam fails the battle, for which the path is struggling for realization of Islamic unity, then the result will be weakening of Islam. Therefore, unity, in general is to the benefit of Islam and it was in this line that the second Caliph used to say,” Had it not been for Ali (AS), Omar would have died.”
Today the regional changes mandate the awakening of all in a bid to prevent the arrogant powers to make the best of the opportunity and Muslims are in need of awakening and vigilance to pave the way for expansive Islamic unity based on civilized dialogue between all Muslims.
Q: What is the strategy for realization of such unity?
A: In order to achieve Islamic unity, there is no way but proximity and creating close ties between Shia and Sunni communities and his mandates containment and limitation of the extremists and also prevention of the media and political invasions by extremists. On the other hand we should struggle for expansion of the good, prevention of the evil, confrontation with corruption in the Islamic nation, protect the oppressed and stir a joint sense of Islamic responsibility as well as trying for the issues of Muslims.
Although Muslims cannot be expected to reach such a level at the same pace, but a look at Islamic lands with different traditions, cultures, languages and all cultural invasions, we find that a common culture prevails all Islamic states.
This common culture is the greatest asset for solidarity, fraternity and dependence on a joint source and that is the reason enemies of Islam try to destroy this important cultural commonality through war and distortion.
Based on that some Muslim clerics note that Islamic solidarity comprises; ideological unity, no economic, political, military battle between Islamic states and also creation of the grounds for familiarization and constant sustained communication between Muslims.
The basis for ideological, cultural and spiritual unity exists in the world of Islam and although there is no need for creation of that, it must be guided in the right channel because a look at Muslim countries should prove that such a unity exists in practice.
Q: What are the blocks on the way towards Islamic unity?
A: One of the most important issues in the world of Islam is religious deviation either through exaggeration, extremism or through ignoring the main objectives of religion and mediation. This issue can be summarized in ethnic and religious prejudices of the failed governments.
First, ethnic and racial prejudices are among the phenomena which dominate ignorant societies. An ignorant society rejects human values; hence, humane principles are useless in it and the people live in a low level of ideologies and values. In such a society, language, complexion, ancestral origins become the principles based on which the people are segregated.
On the other hand, though, Islam is in pursuit of humane principles so that man can go beyond the limited ideological frameworks. Islam in the Arab peninsula dealt with a society which was disintegrated by tribal prejudices and racial hostilities. This was the very point that the difficulty of Prophet’s mission, in uprooting tribal bigotries and launching a unified society, was found. Nowadays, however, the “modern ignorance” is highlighting the same tribal and ethnic values with new names and in the form of European, Jewish, American theories to beat Islam and spread intrigue and hostility among Muslims.
Second, religious prejudices among different ideological and fiq’h approaches have existed since the beginning of Islam. A part of the issue is quite natural and the rest is the fruit of hostile anti-Islam programs by enemies who have misused the disagreements. Politics have also played a role in appearance and collapse of ideological and Fiq’h approaches in the history of Islam. It is noteworthy that the major reason for these religious prejudices should be found in the ignorance of Muslims and some mean narrow minded people have always fueled the flames of intrigues and a puppet for the enemies. Hence for realization of promotion, prejudices and religious extremism should be lifted from Muslim heats and Muslims come to a general agreement that the origin of their issues should be found in the tyrants dominating Muslim states looting their resources.
Third, governments and failed rulers, following the failure of foreign countries in imposing their power on the world of Islam, tried to start a plan for indirectly imposing of political, economic and social plans on Muslim states through some weaker Muslim rulers survived in a post-disintegrated Muslim world.
In this line, they started raising agents from within the world of Islam, in a bid to carry out their plots for crack down liberal movements and also looting material and spiritual assets in these countries.
Besides these issues, there are secondary problems. First are court scholars, who issued statements for legalizing the ruling system among the people, an issue with a long historical background.
Second is the arenas evacuated from leaders and orthodox nations. Third is the failure of unifying projects due to their deviation from their divine objectives. Fourth is lack of understanding on the true reasons behind disagreements and incapability to propose a solution. Then is the colonial powers who took the opportunity of weakened Islamic states proposing national and not Islamic systems. And eventually is the failure of the majority of Islamic nation in a post-colonial era and their substituting Islamic values with western culture which aimed at disintegrating the nation for a full dominance over that.
Q: Does Shia Sunni disagreements resolve through conferences and meetings?
A: Naturally, any movement or action mandates some theories and philosophical bases but it is in vain to expect too much from these gatherings. Hence, we have to simultaneously attain both theoretical and practical aspects of unity. If we did not believe in Islamic unity we would have not taken a step for that. Solidarity is both our option and our faith.
Q: How can we increase the knowledge of Shia and Sunni on each other?
A: Muslim clerics should embrace their responsibility and note that to confront intrigues and disunity mandates purified means and tools as well as using different sources. There are various means of education most important of them all are the mosques which are counted as a hub of invitation and leadership of the people. Enemies have found the important role of mosques and are struggling to underestimate their role.
Q: How do you assess the remarks by some so-called supporters of Sunni community in the world of Arab?
A: If Islam is supported, then Sunni community is automatically defended. The so-called Arab supporters of Sunni, then they should say what they have done against the atrocities of the Zionist regime on Palestinians.
A true defender of the Sunni is he who backs Islam (both Shia and Sunni) as well as defending the resistance and solidarity of the Palestinian nation.
