“Peace or war are based on our fair behavior”, Iranian cleric

Hojjatolislam val moslemin “Habibollah Sha’abani”, representative of the religious jurist and imam of Friday prayer in Hamedan, Iran, in his speech at the webinar of 37th International Islamic Unity Conference, noted that, The Holy Qur'an and our traditions consider justice as the basis of society's movement and as the basis of creation, reported Taghrib News Agency (TNA).

He pointed out that God Almighty explicitly orders to have fair behaviors and interactions and continued: “One of the grounds where our interaction should be based on justice is the engagement of Islamic countries with each other.”

“If our behavior and interactions were based on the truth, if the behavior was right, then it would be fair. If the interactions of the Islamic countries, the interactions of the valuable scholars of the Islamic countries with each other are based on non-righteousness, the behavior would be oppressive”, Sha’abani added.

“It may come to mind and it is tolerable that there is a correlation between degradation and hostility, regardless of which is the cause and which is the effect. A society that declines suffers enmity. The society suffers decline and enmity is the cause of decline”, the Iranian cleric note.

“Providing evidences on history of right and false by referring to clashes between Cain and Abel, Holy Quran names Cain as the initiator of war and enmity. Based on Quran, Cain is the one, who claims not to stretch hand towards Abel. “... because I fear Allah—the Lord of all worlds.” And the one who fears the creator of the universe, never stretches hand to kill. That’s what Quran says in connection with Abel”, he said.

“Holy Quran says, “Whenever they kindle the fire of war, Allah puts it out.” When assigned to prophethood, Moses (AS) was to guide human beings. Quran says, “Go to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed ˹all bounds˺.” Moses (AS) wants to confront Pharoah, who claimed to be God”, he added.

He mentioned clashes between Hazrat Ali (AS) and Mu'awiya as another historical evidence and continued: “Imam and Mu'awiya clashes in Sham because he (Imam) did not wish to accept his (Mu'awiya’s) rule in Sham. When Imam turned Calif of Islamic society that day, was legally entitled to choose and assign his governors and rulers.”

Sha’abani emphasized that peace or war are based on our fair behavior and engagement and justice will be understood from the ability to recognize right and noted: “In Islam we also have early Jihad. Early Jihad is where there is a block and obstacle on the way of God, which needs to be lifted.”

“If we wish promotion of Islam and want holy Quran be in An exalted position in universe so that nobody will dare to desecrate it.This year, we witnessed certain behaviors that ran counter to rationality and all Islamic communities condemned it as was expected condemnation of moves insulting Holy Quran”, he concluded.

World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought holds the annual Islamic Unity Conference at the week concurrent with the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Muslim scholars, thinkers as well as religious and political figures from across the globe discuss the latest issues in the world of Islam at the different sections of the meeting.