Common Grounds for Muslim Unity

The Eastern and Western colonialists are finding themselves confronted with sporadic manifestations of a brewing world-wide Islamic movement. Not surprisingly, they have launched an all-out offensive on the Islamic Revolution in Iran and other Islamic uprisings elsewhere, because tbey could not afford to sit idle and witness the flourishing and strengthening of their only viable enemy. After all, Islam is challenging them both as a more popular alternative.

Thus the colonialists resorted to every trick and gimmick they had in their bag to bring the Islamic Revolution down to its knees. When all their tricks had failed, they had recourse to their old and ever winning ploy, namely spreading seeds of dissunity and division amongst Muslims. Therefore, the all-cutting double edged weapon, i. e. Sunni-Shi ite issue, was brought out of the old trick-bag and thrust into the limelight.

The world-oppressors have realized that if world-wide Muslim unity ever materializes, their oppressive rule over the world will be ended.

It is therefore the duty of every concerned Muslim, throughout the world, to combat such division-mongers and neutralize their activities.

World-wide Muslim unity is the only key to the liberation of Muslim nations from the domination of the world-devourers, to the liberation of Quds from the claws of Zionism, and the only way to restore the old glory and magnificence of the Muslim Ummah, and bring about a genuine appreciation of this Divine Religion by the world population. The important reality is this: Now that Iranian Muslims have offered themselves as the sharp edge of a Muslim’s weapon to cut headlong into the heart of the self-confessed enemies of Islam, it is most apt to expect all the world-Muslims to take an active part in the actualization of such grand and sacred ideal. And if they choose not to, they are bound to regret their negligence, some day.

Grounds for Unity

The heartening fact is that Muslims of various sects have far more areas in commmon than points of difference. What is noteworthy is that the few points of variance are often grabbed and magnified by the malicious enemies of Islam to the extent that they overshadow the common principal areas. To counteract this plot, world-Muslims must reverse the order. They must concentrate more on their common grounds and unite on the basis of all the principles they commonly share.

Allah-Almighty says: “And obey Allah and His Apostle and do not quarrel for then you will be weak in hearts and your power will depart, and be patient; surely Allah is with the patient.” Glorious Quran 8:46.

In the Holy Verse quoted above, two principal principles that are commonly shared by ALL Muslims are highlighted. These are obedience to God and His Prophet. Then it concludes that if Muslims observe these two principles, they will never fight each other and therefore, they will never lose their power and dignity. Muslims are commanded by this Verse to display more tolerance and patience over matters of differences only then will Allah assist them.

Considering the Divine Command in the Quranic Verse quoted above, and given the present position of Islam in the Muslim world, most of which is under military, or economo-political domination of Eastern and Western colonialists, the duty of every Muslim individual, wherever he or she may be, is extremely heavy and demanding.

Any negligence in bringing the hearts and minds of Muslims together will be equal to a sin. By the same token, any attempt to fan the flame of differences amongst Muslims will be tantamount to open and unforgivable betrayal to Islam.

Today, world-Muslims have the potenntial power to withstand all the satanic powers and liberate Afghanistan, Palestine and other usurped lands from the claws of the Eastern and Westorn world-devouters.

Common Viewpoints on All Basic Issues

In the hope of such unity and to take a concrete step towards it. let us outline the major principles that are commonly shared and accepted by ALL the world-Muslims:

1. LA-ILAHA lLLA-ALLAH, there is no god but Allah.
2. MUHMMAD RASULUL-LAH, Muhammad (s) is the (last) Prophet of Allah
3. QURAN is Alah’s Holy Book revealed to His Prophet, Muhammad (s).
4. KA’BAH is accepted by all Muslims as their Qiblah,
5. FIVE TIMES DAILY PRAYERS, and FASTING in the month of RAMADHAN every lunar year.
6. HAJJ PILGRIMAGE for those who arc financially capable.
7. JIHAD: Despite all the attempts by the colonialists to fling the notion of Jihad into oblvion, Muslims of all sects are still firmly and unanimously committed to the duty of Jihad to defend the banner of Islam.
8. ENCOURAGlING GOOD DEEDS AND DISCOURAGING BAD DEEDS:  “And from among you there should be a party who invite to good and enjoin what is right and and forbid the wrong,a nd these it is that shall be successfull.” Holy Quran 3:103.

“You are the best of the nations raised up for the (the benefit of) mankind, you enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” Holy Quran 3:109

“An be not like those who became divided and disagreed after clear arguments had come to them and these it is that shall have a grievous chastisement”. Holy Quran 3:104

In addition to the principles outlined above, there are also other important  issues which fortunately enjoy common consensus of all Muslims. These include various views of different sects of Islam on Islamic government, Islamic financial affairs, social relations, international laws, military policy and other important issues. Differences of openion in such matters, if at all, are few far between and may easily be overlooked.

Therefore, what seems to have hindered, and continues to hinder, a mutual understanding between Muslim bretheren from different sects has been lack of attention to the comon ground for unity.

Practical Solutions

In the past, many attempts have been made by Sunni and Shi’ite scholars and alert individuals to bring about a realization of Muslim unity. Although some progress has been made, the ultimate goal has not yet been achieved because of the numerous obstacles placed in its way by those who stand to benefit from Muslim disunity.

Fortunately, after the Islamic Revoluttion in Iran and the measures taken by Imam Khomeini, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and other great Muslim schollars, most of the obstacles have been removed, and the ground has been paved for Muslim unity to materialize, Most of the colonialist plots have been unveiled and the general consciousness of Muslims in relation to political Issues in Islam and world conspiracies against the Muslim Ummah has been raised, and, the Islamic Republic of Iran together with all its resouurces have been placed at the disposal of the Muslim Ummah to achieve their long awaited sacred ideal of UNITY. By draing upon such resources and the well-paved ground, great steps may be taken towards Muslim unity. This opportunity must not be missed.

There is now extremely close and cordial co-operation in all areas between the Shi’ies and their Sunni brothers in Iran As members of the initial Assembly of Experts, Iranian Sunni representatives co-operated with the Shi’i representatives in drafling the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the Islamic Consultative Assembly, too, Sunni deputies alongside Shi’i deputies serve the Muslim Nation of Iran, Some Sunni scholars are currently members of the Assembly of Experts. In provinces where Sunnis and Shi’ites live together, Councils for Friday-prayer leaders are formed by joint membership of sunni and Shi’ite scholars.

The Sunnis and the Shi’ites are fighting their common enemy in the battlefronts against both foreign invaders and domestic hypocrites and infidels. During the imposed war, a considerable number of our Sunni brothers, including some Sunni scholars, had been martyred in their defence of the Islamic Revolution.

These are vivid examples of how Muslims can unite together under the banner of LA-ILAHA ILLA`ALLAH, while continuing to follow their various faiths (madhabs.)

What do we mean by Muslim Unity?

One interpretation is that all Muslims Shi’i and Sunni abandon their specific beliefs and only believe in the common area of the faiths, and practise accorrdingly.

Another interpretation can be that one of the faiths is chosen by general consent and then everyone will follow this chosen faith. The fact of the matter is that neiither of these two interpretations are correct because:

1. The notion of Muslim unity does not necessarily mean the Unification of beliefs and uniformity of practical rituals of various Islamic faiths, and
2. Such proposition is by no means feasible.

What is meant by Muslim unity is that Muslims of all various Islamic faiths, while maintaining their specific beliefs and adhering to their specific rituals, should support the exalted interests of Islam in their social, political, military, economic, and cultural relations with other Muslims. And that, they should act, so to speak, as a “solid front” in their confrontation with the enemies of Islam.

Now let us consider some of the major components of one of the most plausible solution.

1. Negation of racialism. The Holy Quran refers to all Muslims as one “single Ummah” and declares as null and void all illusory privileges”Surely this is your Ummah (global community), and one Ummah (only), and I am your Lord, therefore serve Me.” Holy Quran 21 : 92.Enemies of Islam attempted to divide the Muslims by, among other things, hoisting flags of ‘nationalism’ and ‘racialism’ at them, and exciting their jingoistic sentiiments. Hence the emergence of such collonialist labels and “isms” as: Pan-Arabism’, ‘Pan-lranism’, ‘Pan-Turkism’, etc.

   We must hasten to add that the type of Muslim unity we are calling for here does not, at all, mean that all Muslims should forsake their homeland and all the customs and traditions that go with it. Nor are we advocating any form of expansionism of any kind.

2. Raising the consciousness of MuslimsThe root cause for the predicament of Muslims is their ignorance and lack of appreciation of ISLAM. What caused the decIme of the Muslims, with all their grand civilization in the past, was merely their devialion from the path of Islam and Islamic teachings. In the world today, no serious attempts are being made to further the consciousness and awareness of Muslims in the fields of Ummah-wide issues, Islamic learning and major current affairs of the world at Iarge.In this respect, the Islamic Revolution in Iran has produced a positive impact and has, to some extent, paved the way for the realization of such an ideal. The fulfilment of this holy objective, however, requries the co-operation and co-thinking of the entire population of Muslim theorists, scholars and revolutionaries, world-wide.
3. Enjoining Truth
   “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. I swear by the Time. Most surely man is at a loss, except those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and enjoin truth on each other to (follow) the truth, and enjoin one another to patience.” Holy Quran Surah Al-Asr

Muslims must give guidance to one another. They must communicate to to other Muslims what they reckon and believe to be the truth. The part played by “Enjoining Truth” is significant one in that it contributes towards truth amongst Muslims. In this way, an atmosphere of Muslim brotherhood coupled with a sense of truth-seeking and truth-telling will previde the norm for social code of conduct in the Muslim community.

Only if such major pre-requisites are met, can Muslim unity be acheived.

To conclude on a blissful note some quotations from Imam Khomeini on the notion of Muslim Unity:

What can solve the predicament of Muslims is brotherhood amongst them.

Shi’i and Sunni brothers must avoid any discord, for discord amongst us today is to the benefit of those who believe neither in the Hanafi faith, nor in the Shi’i faith nor indeed any other faith.

We must pay attention to this notion that we are all Muslims, and that we all believe in Monotheism (oneness of God) and the Holy Quran.

Sunni and Shi’i brothers ought to do their best to safeguard their unity. Making an issue out of ‘Shi’i’ and ‘Sunni’ is (in effect) acting against Islam. There is no difference between ‘Sunni’ and Shi’i, we are all Muslims.

I emphasize the point that Islam is our only shelter. Under the glorious bannner of Islam, all (social) groups will be given their right. Foreign agents, who find their interests in jeopardy, have brought up the ‘Shi’i-Sunni’ subject in a bid to provoke our Sunni brothers. These agents want to create discord by craft and mischief.

In the Islamic Republic, the Shi’ite and the Sunni are side by side and treat each other as brothers; and they enjoy equal rights, Anyone who propagandizes to the contrary will be an enemy of Iran and Islam.

The (only) country where the basis of unity has taken shape is Iran; unity between the Shi’ites and the Sunnis, as well as between the Govemment and the Nation.

One of the biggest and most basic problems of the Muslims is lack of unity amongst them, the root cause of which is with the heads of Muslim countries.

Those godless agents fan the fire of discord; and whenever the foundation is laid for Muslim unity, they launch an all out opposition, and sow seeds of disunity.

All the word-Muslims should pay attention to the verses In the Quran that have been revealed in connection with Muslim unity They should invite other Muslims to unite and hold fast to the covenant of Allah, that is Islam itself.

He who believes in Islam does not fan the fire of discord and dispute at a time when we must triumph through Muslim unity.