Tunisian scholar: Islamic unity is a civilizational and practical strategy
Tunisian scholar Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Kharrat has described Islamic unity as an existential and strategic necessity, stressing that it should go beyond a temporary or tactical approach and focus Muslims’ attention on common causes, particularly Palestine and resistance to Zionist domination.
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Al-Kharrat, a professor of international law and Friday prayer leader at Al-Kawthar Mosque in Kairouan, Tunisia, made the remarks while discussing the place of Islamic unity in the thought and legacy of the late Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
He said the school of thought of the martyred leader represented a continuation of the path of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) household, founded on courage, dignity, unity and honor.
According to the Tunisian scholar, the legacy of Ayatollah Khamenei in the field of Islamic unity lies in transforming the concept from an emotional slogan into a practical and civilizational strategy.
He said this approach rejected sectarian division and sought to establish permanent mechanisms for convergence and cooperation among different Islamic schools of thought, particularly in confronting external challenges.
Al-Kharrat pointed to the establishment of the World Forum for Proximity among Islamic Schools of Thought as an institutional framework bringing together Muslim scholars and intellectuals.
He also cited the annual promotion and expansion of Islamic Unity Week as an initiative aimed at emphasizing common ground among Muslims and strengthening the concept of a united Muslim Ummah. International conferences on Islamic proximity, he added, have provided platforms for Muslims from various countries to engage in dialogue and cooperation.
The Tunisian scholar further highlighted religious rulings and positions supporting Islamic unity, including the well-known ruling prohibiting insults against Sunni symbols, the Companions of the Prophet and the Mothers of the Believers.
He said the condemnation of takfir, or declaring other Muslims unbelievers, and identifying it as a colonial tool used to divide Muslims and fuel internal strife was another key element of this approach.
Al-Kharrat stressed that both Shia and Sunni Muslims constitute one Ummah, sharing the same direction of prayer, scripture and common adversaries.
He concluded that strengthening Islamic unity requires directing Muslim efforts toward shared priorities and causes, foremost among them the Palestinian cause and resistance to Zionist domination.
