Islamic unity; The solution to the crises of the Persian Gulf, Palestine and Lebanon
Islamic unity as a proposed solution to crises in the Persian Gulf, Palestine, and Lebanon has been a recurring theme in political and religious discourse within the Muslim world (Ahmadi, 2021). Advocates argue that internal cohesion among Muslim-majority countries is a strategic imperative to counter external interference, resolve regional conflicts, and address shared challenges (Pezeshkian, 2025).
Persian Gulf crisis
The Persian Gulf region has historically been characterized by geopolitical rivalries, sectarian tensions, and intervention by extra-regional powers. Conflicts such as the Yemeni civil war, the Qatar diplomatic crisis (2017–2021), and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict have been attributed by some analysts to the weakness of collective Islamic institutions (Bernama, 2026).
Role of unity
Proponents of Islamic unity suggest that if Muslim countries coalesce around institutions like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and regional dialogues (e.g., the Tehran-Riyadh talks mediated by China and Iraq), they could prevent the Gulf from becoming an arena for external rivalries involving the United States and Israel (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, 2025). In this view, the Yemeni crisis could be addressed through a joint political initiative rather than military means, and energy resources could be transformed from instruments of pressure into goods for common development (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, 2025).
Palestine
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is often described as a "deep wound" in the collective consciousness of the Muslim world (Hanina, 2026). The war in Gaza (from October 2023) demonstrated widespread emotional solidarity among Muslims, but advocates argue it also revealed a lack of political and military cohesion (Hadad, 2025). The Abraham Accords and the normalization of relations between some Arab countries and Israel have been criticized by some as weakening pan-Islamic unity on the Palestine issue (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, 2025).
Role of unity
From a unity-oriented perspective, a unified Islamic stance would entail a complete severance of relations with Israel and support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, 2025). Proposals include creating a "Resistance and Reconstruction Fund" financed by wealthy Muslim states to rebuild Gaza and Lebanon without Western political conditions, and using collective economic leverage (e.g., boycotts or energy embargoes) similar to the international campaign against South Africa under apartheid (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, 2025).
Lebanon
Lebanon has a fragile confessionalist political system and has experienced significant external influence from actors including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United States (Yapp, 2014). The country has faced civil war, political assassinations, an economic crisis, and the 2020 Beirut explosion. Political deadlock and the inability to form a stable government have been key symptoms of the crisis of sovereignty (Yapp, 2014).
Role of Islamic unity
Rather than competing through proxies in Lebanon (e.g., the Future Movement, various Christian factions), some argue that Muslim countries should promote a "Taif Agreement 2" – a new framework for coexistence (Yapp, 2014). This would involve Lebanese groups achieving stability with financial and political support from Arab states and Iran without direct military intervention (Yapp, 2014). An "Islamic Peace Initiative for Lebanon" has been proposed to facilitate the disarmament of non-state groups (except those resisting Israeli occupation) and to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Barriers to unity and proposed solutions
Several barriers to Islamic unity are frequently identified, along with corresponding solutions (Ahmadi, 2021; Bernama, 2026; Hanina, 2026; Pezeshkian, 2025):
- Sectarianism (Takfir, extremism) → Proposed solution: Promoting interfaith dialogue and a "jurisprudence of unity" (fiqh al-wahda) that emphasizes commonalities such as Tawhid, prophethood, the Qibla, the Hajj, and the defense of Jerusalem (Bernama, 2026; Hanina, 2026).
- Foreign intervention → Proposed solution: A "No Foreign Intervention Zone" strategy through an indigenous Islamic military and economic alliance (Pezeshkian, 2025).
- Nationalist rivalries (Arab, Turkish, etc.) → Proposed solution: Redefining security as collective rather than state-centric (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, 2025).
See also
References
Template:Refbegin Ahmadi, H. (2021). Islamic unity and regional crises in West Asia. Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 45(3), 112–130.
Bernama. (2026, January 24). Unity among Islamic nations crucial to halt oppression of marginalised Ummah -- WFPIST. Bernama. https://bernama.com/en/news.php/general/news.php/?id=2516294
Hadad, M. (2025, April 28). الإمام الخميني الراحل زرع بذرة الوحدة في هذه الأمة [The late Imam Khomeini planted the seed of unity in this nation]. Tehran Arabic Radio. https://arabicradio.ir/news/198974
Hanina, G. (2026, February 19). الشيخ غازي حنينة: الوحدة تشكل صمام الأمان للحفاظ على الاسلام [Sheikh Ghazi Hanina: Unity forms the safety valve for preserving Islam]. Taghrib News Agency. https://www.taghrib.org/ar/news/الشيخ-غازي-حنينة-الوحدة-تشكل-صمام-الأمان-للحفاظ-على-الاسلام
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan. (2025, June 23). Istanbul Declaration adopted by the 51st session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held in Istanbul, Turkiye on 21-22 June 2025. https://mofa.gov.pk/press-releases/istanbul-declaration-adopted-by-the-51st-session-of-oic-council-of-foreign-ministers-held-in-istanbul-turkiye-on-21-22-june-2025
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. (2025, December 31). OIC General Secretariat renews support for Yemeni legitimacy and for regional security and stability. https://new.oic-oci.org/SitePages/NewsDetail.aspx?Item=3245
Pezeshkian, M. (2025, September 8). Iran's president blames Muslim divisions for Western empowerment. Iran Press. https://iranpress.com/content/309812/iran-president-blames-muslim-divisions-for-western-empowerment
Yapp, M. E. (2014). Lebanon, 1989–95. In The Near East since the First World War. Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315842998-26 Template:Refend