Holy Quran, Prophet Have Emphasized Muslim Unity
In an interview with IQNA on the occasion of the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) birthday and the Islamic Unity Week, Ali Ramadan Al-Awsi, a scholar teaching at the World Islamic Sciences University in London, elaborated on the character of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and need for unity in the Muslim Ummah.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Q: In your view, what specific characteristics did Prophet Muhammad have compared to other messengers of God?
A: First of all, I would like to extend congratulations on the occasion of the Unity Week. I hope God would help to bring about Islamic unity on this occasion, which is a major opportunity for unity.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has characteristics that are common in all messengers of God. He also has specific characteristics of his own. For example, he is the Rahmat Mihdah (guided mercy) and is the Seal of Prophets.
Prophet Muhammad is one about whom the Quran says “So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.”
He suffered a lot among his people but treated them with mercy and forgiveness and tolerance. This is an important lesson. We, Muslims, wherever we live, need to have tolerance and forgive one another because otherwise the Ummah will end up in disputes and failure.
Q: How did the Holy Prophet (PBUH) interact with his opponents?
A: The first thing the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did was inviting his relatives to Islam but some of them rejected the call and some from the Quraysh Tribe harassed and taunted him. But the Prophet (PBUH) still treated them in a friendly manner and invited them to Islam. His call was a Quranic one and he managed to fight people’s ignorance by moving on the Quranic path and explaining issues with reason and logic.
Q: How can unity, which is among the necessities of an Islamic society, help to weaken Takfiri current?
A: The Holy prophet (PBUH) came to unify not only the Ummah but the entire humanity. As God says in Surah Al-Anbya “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds”. This mercy is not for Muslims only but for the entire humanity as the mission of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was global and its purpose was to guide humanity to salvation.
Meanwhile, Islamic unity was among the top values that the Holy Quran and the Prophet (PBUH) emphasized. There are many verses in the Quran that call for unity and there are many Hadiths from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that underline the importance of unity.
In fact all Islamic sources stress that Muslims should be united and move on a unified path.
Takfiris and others who kill Muslims should know that what they do is against Islam. They are the Khawarij of the time because they have revolted against the essence of the religion. Islam invites to mercy, compassion and peaceful coexistence and does not condone killing other human beings.
The Takfiris’ activities in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries are not Islamic because they run counter to Islamic values.
Q: What do you think about the importance of holding fast to the Quran in order to reach Muslim unity?
A: Quran is the Book of God and all Muslims unanimously believe in it. Today, Tqawa (God-fearing) and resorting to the Quran is what can save Muslims from division and disunity. If Muslims resort to the Quran, they can regain their identity and realize Islamic unity.
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