The Prophet of Mercy and the Ahl al-Bayt; the axis of the unity of the Islamic Ummah

Today, the skies of Muslims' hearts burn with grief for the one whom God named "Mercy to the Worlds" – he who, with his great character, turned divisions into harmony, and through his heavenly teachings, transformed unity from a slogan into a social way of life. A Prophet who, after himself, left behind two precious treasures – the Book of God and his pure progeny – so that the Ummah would never go astray. In these days of mourning, the names of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) once again shine upon the horizon of Islamic history – names that have each been a lamp for unity and peace: from the wise peace of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS), which saved lives, to the learned debates of Imam Reza (AS), which shattered the boundaries of difference in the shadow of logic and ethics. Among these, the unbreakable bond of Kurdistan with the household of infallibility and purity, with the presence of the luminous shrine of Lady Hajar Khatun (SA) in the heart of Sanandaj, shows that love for the Ahl al-Bayt flows not in one geography, but across all the lands of Islamic Iran. Taghrib News Agency (TNA), during these days, hosted Mamosta Faeq Rostami, a prominent unity-oriented figure of Kurdistan, to discuss from his perspective the commonalities, ethical teachings, and practical conduct of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt for today's Islamic Ummah. The full text of this interview follows:

TNA: Today marks the anniversary of the passing of the Prophet of Mercy. What is his most important ethical teaching for the unity of Islamic society, and how can it be realized today?

Mamosta Faeq Rostami: In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Although from the Sunni perspective, the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal is both the birth and passing of the Prophet, there is no doubt about the importance and grief of his passing, which pains every believer and Muslim. Almighty God, in the Holy Quran, introduced the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with two of His own attributes – "Kind" and "Merciful" – to all. The miracle of the Prophet (PBUH) is a book filled with wisdom, justice, and humanity, which remains fresh until the Day of Resurrection. The first step of the Messenger of God (PBUH) after the Hijrah to Medina was to create unity and brotherhood. After the high station of prophethood, he entered the field of brotherhood and raised people who would have peace and friendship with one another.

But today, we must ask ourselves: for what crime do Muslims kill one another and take sides against each other? As long as we do not truly follow the Sharia of Muhammad (PBUH), we will not achieve the unity that God has commanded in the Quran. If unity is not practiced, it is merely a slogan. God says in the Quran: "And hold fast to the rope of God all together and do not become divided." Today, we must realize this teaching by returning to the Quran and the Prophetic conduct in our individual and social lives, and avoid any divisiveness that the enemies design to disrupt Muslim unity.

TNA: How can the historical peace of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS) serve as a model for the rapprochement of denominations and the prevention of division in the Islamic world?

Mamosta Faeq Rostami: There is no act of worship greater than striving to establish peace among people. The peace of Imam Hasan (AS) is not merely a historical event; it is a school and an eternal model for all Muslims of the world. With that intelligent peace treaty, he saved many lives and left a lasting lesson of sacrifice for preserving the unity of the Islamic Ummah. Today, the Islamic world needs this model more than ever. The sworn enemies of Islam have repeatedly tried to disrupt Muslim unity through various conspiracies.

The peace of Imam Hasan (AS) teaches us that sometimes, to preserve the essence of Islam and the cohesion of Islamic society, one must set aside personal and factional interests and seek peaceful paths to resolve differences. This great lesson can serve as a guiding light for Shia and Sunni scholars today, so that by following this conduct, they can set aside jurisprudential and theological differences and emphasize the abundant commonalities we share in the Quran and our love for the Prophet (PBUH) and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).

TNA: What common aspects in the personality of Imam Hasan (AS) can serve as a bridge for unity between Shia and Sunni brothers?

Mamosta Faeq Rostami: Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (AS) is the son of the Messenger of God (PBUH) and of the pure and immaculate Ahl al-Bayt, whom the Prophet (PBUH) recommended us to hold fast to. All Muslims, both Shia and Sunni, honor him as one of the most revered figures in Islamic history and as a member of the Prophetic household. His noble personality can serve as a bridge for unity in several ways: first, his relation to the Prophet (PBUH), which is respected by all Muslims; second, his piety, worship, and virtues, which are narrated in the sources of both major schools; and third, his peace-seeking and tolerance, which provide a complete model for peaceful coexistence in Islamic society.

When Shia and Sunni brothers know that they all love Imam Hasan (AS) and consider him among the great figures of religion, this love can serve as a bridge for greater closeness. We must highlight these points of commonality and draw a line through the historical differences that the enemies emphasize to divide us.

TNA: What lessons can be drawn from the ethical conduct and method of debate of Imam Reza (AS) for strengthening Islamic unity and inter-denominational dialogue today? And what connection is there between this conduct and Kurdistan and Khorasan?

Mamosta Faeq Rostami: In all stages of his life, Imam Reza (AS), by walking the path of divine proximity, is a clear and manifest mirror of the path and secret of spiritual journeying toward God. His method of debate, which he held in the court of Ma'mun with scholars of various religions, offers valuable lessons for today. With good ethics, patience, knowledge, and forbearance, he engaged in dialogue with his opponents, and through reasoning and logic – not through force and imposition – he clarified the truth. This method is very effective for the rapprochement of denominations today, which requires scholarly and logical dialogue.