Iranian cleric hailed the followers of proximity in the Sunni community warning against ignorance and tyranny as the reasons against realization of Islamic unity.
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Hujjat-ul-Islam Rasoul Jafarian, Iranian cleric and history of Islam researcher, in an interview with “Unified Ummah” electronic magazine, expressed his views on the meaning and status of Islamic proximity in the present era.
The cleric was asked on feasibility of proximity among Islamic denominations when he said,” Now that battle with Daesh is in its peak, it is high time that Muslims, who are in pursuit of defending their religion, stress their unity and this is a must so that the new generation of Muslims know that the present situation is the price Muslim nation is paying for not attending its unity.”
He related on the meaning of proximity dividing the interpretation of the term into two parts: first, proximity rooted in Islamic traditions trying to strengthen the ties between Islamic Fiq’h schools in the 7th century.
According to the cleric, the second interpretation of proximity was the version which has risen from the west. The western view in the recent centuries has rejected religious prejudices with the most stress on preventing outbreak of sectarian clashes. Formation of Humanism solved the problem of religious disagreements to a great extent though it was trapped by racial segregation which led to sparks of deadly wars. A group of Islamic thinkers, following this model, tried to bring reforms into religion in a bid to alleviate religious disagreements.
The fact is that the basics of proximity lie in resolving the issue of Takfir (excommunication) and prejudice. Proximity will not realize as far as these two issues, with the former an ideological and the latter a behavioral issue, are not solved. Whenever religious wars have worsened due to political reasons, a group of people are excommunicated and their killing is demanded as a must!
The cleric, referring to the efforts for realization of Islamic proximity, related on the failed efforts for the end and said,” Religious disagreements in the Middle East and the religions arisen from the territory are quite aggressive opening its way in Christianity and 2000-year old clashes of Christianity and Judaism are the heritage of the same issue. In an Islamic east, Islam, Christianity and Judaism have had serious clashes though Islam’s calling the other two religions as the people of the Book have resolved the issue to some extent.”
It is high time that we investigated into the reasons why religious disagreements in the Middle East are so aggressive and that is related to our understanding of “belief”, to imagine that only one belief will lead to redemption and followers of other religions will end in hell. When everyone, rather us, will go to hell, then they are corrupt people who have to either be guided by force or be disappeared so that they do not damage our world! We are in need of an ideological softness and a peace to resolve the issue.
The cleric also related on the internal and external factors for initiating proximity activities and said,” “confrontation with a common enemy” has been a major principles throughout the past century. The meaning of enemy and confrontation with him, who is taken as the west and some parts of former Soviet Union, has always been a particular priority for proximity activities.”
According to the cleric another factor in proximity talks is the understanding from Islam and religious thought in presenting it as a pacifist image. To alleviate the violence and prejudice, what is both rooted in the Islamic teachings and is recommended by western contemporary figures, is another aspect of this reformist movement.
Iranian cleric was also asked on the cooperation of other Muslim states with the Islamic Republic of Iran on proximity issues and he noted,” Shia community seems to be more active in the field of proximity thought in the Sunni world, the movement started in Egypt.” Adding,” It started with the marriage of Iran’s then prince with an Egyptian princess Foziye, when the questions over possibility of a Shia Sunni marriage rose. Shia Sunni disagreements were marginalized and were taken serious by Al Azhar religious leaders of the time.”
Proximity activities were maintained in Iran partly due to rationality dominating among the Iranians. Many prominent Iranian clerics were followers of Islamic unity, a result of Shia rationalism.
Unfortunately proximity talks have been limited in the Sunni world during the past four decades thought it is a mistake to underestimate the number of proximity followers. Cries for proximity in the Sunni world are not heard only because lack of leaders.
When asked on the current situation of the Muslim world in regards to outbreak of sectarian clashes and a parallel era to the present one in the history of Islam, Hujjat-ul-Islam Rasoul Jafarian, referred to Shia Sunni clashes during Ommayid era when moderate Sunni figures were in house arrest, Imam Ali (AS), first Shia Imam was left out of power and his two sons were martyred through plots. After that one of the worst eras was 4th and 5th century AH when endless Shia Sunni clashes broke out in Baghdad. What has happened since the appearance of Wahhabism, is unique in regards to the quantity and quality of the crimes committed. Wahhabi scholars have uncontrollably risen against all other Muslims, ranging from elites, rationalists, Shia and Sufis publishing hundreds of books and articles fueling the fire of sectarian clashes.
Iranian cleric also related on strategies for containing extremist figures against proximity and said,” One option against a problem is to take a neutral stance opening the way for expansion of a problem to the point that it dominates and annihilates everything while the other option is to look for a solution and do our best to alleviate the range of damages created by the issue. It seems that there is no space left for proximity as a result of the present sectarian clashes but the fact is that we have to do our best to inform the people and warn them over the results of extremism and war which is nothing but annihilation of man.
In regards to solutions, we have no means but enlightening. This is the sole way to undermine extremism and our path to lead the Islamic society towards democracy. We are in need of a democracy to make the best choice for the people based on rationalism; hence, we will witness the present situation in the Muslim world as far as “ignorance” exists and it moves hand in hand with tyranny.
