Muslim Scholars Urged to Be Vigilant in Face of Enemy Plots against Islamic Unity
Speaking to IQNA on the occasion of the Islamic Unity Week, President of the Association of Iraqi Sunni Scholars Sheikh Khaled al-Mulla highlighted the significance of unity in the Muslim world.
He said the enemies of Islam, by supporting extremist groups, are trying to spread discord and undermine Islamic unity, which necessitates more vigilance on the part of Muslim scholars to counter this plot.
According to the cleric, differences of views among Faqihs and scholars and the existence of various Islamic schools of thought is a source of power for the Muslim Ummah but Islam’s foes are doing everything they can to exploit these differences to deal blows to Muslims by provoking disunity.
For example, he told IQNA, they use extremist Sunni or Shia groups to insult the other school of thought.
All of these sinister schemes can be countered via unity, Sheikh al-Mulla said, adding that unity is the basis of coexistence and that is why such great Sunni and Shia scholars like Sheikh Muhammad Abduh, Sayyed Jamaleddin Assadabadi, Sheikh Mahmoud Shaltut, Sheikh Abbas Qomi, Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei have strived for Muslim unity.
He also cited a number of Quranic verses, including verse 10 of Surah al-Hujurat “Believers are indeed brothers, therefore make things right among your two brothers and fear Allah, so that you will be subject to mercy,” to note that according to the Holy Book, all Muslims are brothers.
The power of the Islamic world lies in unity, fraternity and friendship of Muslims, he underscored.
The Iraqi scholar further stressed the important role of the media in promoting unity and said they can help raise awareness among Muslims about the significance of unity.
The 17th day of Rabi al-Awwal, which falls on October 24 this year, is believed by Shia Muslims to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), while Sunni Muslims regard the 12th day of the month (October 19 this year) as the birthday of the last prophet.
The interval between the two dates is celebrated every year as the Islamic Unity Week.
Late Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini (RA) declared the occasion as the Islamic Unity Week back in the 1980s.
On the occasion of the Islamic Unity Week, Iran annually hosts the International Conference on Islamic Unity with the participation of scholars, thinkers and political figures from all over the Muslim world.
This year’s conference kicked off in Tehran on Tuesday morning.
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