Islamic unity and Muslim intellectuals

Promoting unity of the great Islamic Ummah has been a major axis in the thoughts of many leading Muslim intellectuals worldwide. Here are some quotes on unity from these great personalities.

Martyr Morteza Motahari:

Obviously, by Islamic unity open-minded Muslim scholars do not mean that Islamic schools of thought must be limited to one nor do they mean that the common points among different Islamic schools of thought must be accepted and the differences must be rejected for this is neither rational nor is it practical.

Allamah Amini:

Different Islamic schools of thought differ in their ideas and beliefs. Nevertheless, the bond of brotherhood to which the holy Koran has clearly referred to by the verse “Verily, the believers are brothers” will never be torn even though scientific debates and religious argumentation reach their peak. This was the method of our predecessors including the companions of the prophet and his followers. In spite of all our differences concerning the principles of Islam as well as the secondary rules of this religion, as Muslims authors and writers in the different corners of the world, we have one thing in common, which is faith in God and the prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.). In our bodies one soul and sentiment governs and that is the soul of Islam and sincerity.

Martyr Ayatollah Baqir Sadr

“I have dedicated all my life to creating brotherhood between Shia and Sunnah and have supported and defended any step or message aimed at uniting them. I am the brother and son of the followers of Sunnah as much as I am the brother and son of the followers of Shia.” The first practical steps toward creating unity among Shia and Sunnah were taken by Imam Moussa Sadr in Lebanon when forty years ago, he wrote a letter to Sheikh Hassan Khaled-the Sunnah Mufti of Lebanon- suggesting certain practical steps toward unity. In that letter, Imam Moussa Sadr talked about unity concerning the rules and principles of Shia and Sunnah as well as celebrating Islamic feasts on the same day by all Muslims. ”By relying on modern scientific methods in sighting the moon crescent, and therefore determining the day of the feast through scientific preciseness, all Muslims will be able to celebrate the feast on the same day. Moreover, we can consider a form of call to prayer, Which is accepted by all.” One year after this letter, in the annual ‘Assembly of Islamic Research” in Cairo, Imam Moussa Sadr offered a compiled plan concerning this issue to the assembly which led to his permanent membership. In the same year and in an interview with the Egyptian magazine “Al-Mossawar’ he said, “The issue of unity among different Islamic schools of thought is only possible after achieving unity in religious jurisprudence and will not be reached through mere discussions and superficial negotiations among the leaders of different Islamic schools of thought.’ The joint participation of Imam Moussa Sadr and the Sunni mufti of Lebanon in different ceremonies, especially, in the memorial ceremony of Ayatollah Hakim, which was held at the ‘Shia Higher Council’, giving the sermon for the Sunnah congregational prayer at Al-Azhar and praying with them, are among the practical measures taken by this Shia leader aimed at creating unity among Muslims. Measures at this level and in this form were never taken after Imam Moussa Sadr. Sadr believed that reaching unity depends on the foresight and effort of all intellectuals in the Islamic world, and in his letter to Sheikh Hassan Khaled he wrote, “Reaching unity requires precise studies and investigation, determining and appointing responsibilities and coordinating the efforts among all Arabs and Muslims. It also requires the mobilizing of all Arabic countries and those who are conscientious and have a good will worldwide. Moreover, carrying out these duties means that we must donate all we can.” It is up to us to investigate the plans and methods of reaching unity together and in groups. Like this unity will be realized and coordination of activities aimed at reaching unity and the depth and speed of these activities will be facilitated. Based on this belief the social and charitable activities of Imam Moussa Sadr Moussa Sadr as the Shia leader of Lebanon were not limited to Shias and included all Lebanese. If some consider unity to be an ideal, Imam Moussa Sadr believed that it is vital for Islam. He said, “Unity and unifying the forces and being efficient in this are not only among the most honorable aims of Islam and the will of our great prophet but also it is something that our existence and entity, honor as well as the entity and existence of our next generations depends on. Yes, unity is a vital issue and this concept should not remain as a slogan or written speech. Rather it must be followed and this is not possible unless by round-the-clock effort rising from the inside. Then we shall have unity that sets as an example for others to follow. Imam Moussa Sadr believed unity to be an essential part of the lives of Muslims and said. “Unity among Muslims is not just something recommended by the prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) but it is an essential part of life and the human mind also recommends it. Our existence and survival depends on unity. By unity among Muslims I mean unity in the real sense that is unity in all our thoughts, deeds, efforts and plans.

Allameh Sayyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabei:

The Shias of early Islam never ignored the ideas of the majority and cooperated with all Muslims for the progress of general Islamic issues. Currently, it is a must for all Muslims to maintain their togetherness concerning the principles of the holy religion of Islam and learn from all the pressure and distress caused by the enemies during the years and to set aside the existing disunion and unite.

Sayyed Qotb:

Based on the holy Koran, Muslims should first carry out the most essential and urgent action, which is creating union among themselves. The holy Koran has referred to unity by the word ‘Etesam’ .The importance of unity is because for an action to be successful and useful and have a positive result, it must be done based on union so that different methods of carrying out that particular action do not eliminated the positive effects.

Sheikh Mohammad Hossein Kashef Al-Ghata:

Islam is based on two pillars that is the pillar of ‘there is no God but Allah’, and on unity.

Sheikh Mohammad Ghazali:

Islam invites people to set aside disunion and to be united. God Almighty has referred to unity in the holy Koran when he advises people to avoid disunion. Unfortunately, though, we are facing such disunion. We fight against each other under the pretext of religion and follow different paths and show extreme bigotry and hostility towards out other brothers.” Sayyed Abdulhossein Sharaf-el-Din: ‘At the very beginning, politics created disunion among Shia and Sunnah and now politics must bring them together.’ Sheikh Mohammad Shaltut, who agreed with Ayatollah Boroujerdi in applying the process of proximity and taking it forth in the direction of eliminating all bigotry says,” Islam does not force any of its followers to follow a particular school of thought. The Jafari school of thought known as the Islamic school of thought based on 12 Imams is a school of thought the following of which is like following the Sunnah Islamic school of thought. Therefore, it is important that Muslims understand this fact and avoid unfair bigotry toward a particular school of thought .for God’s religion is not limited to a particular school of thought . Sheikh Mohammad Abdo the student of Sayyed Jamal-el-Din Asadabadi believes that disunion is the conspiracy of the enemies and says, ‘Disunion among the followers of different Islamic schools of thought is a conspiracy by the enemies . The enemies have tried hard to weaken the different Islamic schools of thought by creating disunion among the followers of the different Islamic schools of thought and to make them hate each other as well as to keep them away from the true Islamic orders and to create suspicion among them and decrease the relationship between Muslims and true Islam.’ Sheikh Mohammad Abdo: Union is the fruit of a tree which has different barks, branches and leaves, and the root of which is the ideal Islamic moral, and it is a must for the Muslims to learn the real Islamic moral teachings and to be able to benefit from its fruit.’

Sheikh Mohammad Shaltut:

The first Islamic leaders differed as far as science was concerned; however, they respected each other. They used to travel to visit each other and to learn from each other.

Ahmad Kashef-el-Gheta:

We must know that by proximity among different Islamic schools of thought we do not mean to eliminate the differences among them. The important aim is that these differences and disagreements do not lead to hostility instead of leading to proximity and brotherhood. Imam Khomieni, the great leader of the Islamic Revolution (May he rest in peace): ‘Disunion is from the Satan and unity is from God.”

Martyr Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Taqi Hakim:

The lies and false propaganda by oppressive and tyrannical governments are the main reason for disunion among Shia and Sunnah.

Mohammad Rashid Reza”

One of the biggest problems of different Islamic schools of thought is accusing each other of iniquity although they all aim to reach the truth, each of them is a mojtahed, and even if a mojtahed makes a mistake , he is forgiven.

Martyr Morteza Motahari:

Those who are against unity among Muslims refer to it, as unity among different Islamic schools of thought to show that Islamic unity is an irrational and impractical concept. However, great Islamic scholars do not intend to change all Islamic schools of thought to either Shia or Sunnah, but merely aim to unite Muslims.

Sayyed Ahmad Khomieni:

For years Muslim societies have been considering Islamic unity and unity among different Islamic countries, but a positive and determining measure has not been taken. When the spirit of monotheism and values which are essential in attracting people to unity do not exist or do not rule a society, such efforts will not be useful.

Allahameh Sharaf-el-Din:

Whenever Muslims get to understand each other, there will be unity and intimacy among them. Allameh Mohammad Taqi Ghomi, among the pioneers of creating Islamic unity: Eliminating disagreements among Muslims and creating unity among them means renewing the grandeur of Islam. Disagreements on anything other than the principles of religion will not harm faith and will not take any one out of the realm of Islam.

Imam Moussa Sadr:

The basic reason for the detachment of different Islamic schools of thought is lack of awareness of each other or knowing each other.

Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei:

If Muslims do not breach unity among them, unity between the West and the East against them will fail.

Allamah Mohammed Mohammed Madani:

Before starting research, researchers must set aside the concept of different sects and Islamic schools of thought so that they can judge the opinions and views of different schools of thought without bigotry and to choose the best of them based on reason. Part of the written oath of ‘The Muslim Brotherhood’: We believe that all Muslims due to their common Islamic Faith are one nation and Islam has ordered all its followers to do good. I swear to make an effort toward the strengthening of the bond of brotherhood among Muslims as well as toward the elimination of disagreements.

Professor Ahmad Amin Mesry:

It is unfortunate that as an Ummah which have one God, one prophet and one book to fight and be disunited over trivial and secondary issue and to reason through the use of weapons.