Muslim Unity (Ittihad), Islamic Solidarity, Sunni Shia Unity, Muslim Ummah

Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: "And hold fast, all together,by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves." (3:103)

Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: "The believers are but a single brotherhood. Make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers and fear Allah so that you may receive mercy." (49-10)

Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: "As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, you have no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah. He will in the end, tell them the truth of all that they did." (6-159)

Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "The Muslims are like a body, if one part of the body hurts, rest of the body will also suffer." Meaning that the Muslims, whether they are of Chinese, African or Arabian or European origin, are one Ummah and they cannot be separated from each other.

Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "Believers are brethren, their lives are equal to each other and they are as one hand against their enemy."

Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "It is not permissible for two Muslims to be annoyed and angry for more that three days."

Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "When Muslims are angry with each other for three days. If they do not compromise then they go away from the limits of Islam and the one who compromise first will enter Jannah (Paradise) earlier."

The utmost important duty for every Muslim is to preserve and protect the Muslim unity and not to cause any division in the Muslim rank. O Muslims: Know that union is strength and division is weakness. A building will not be strong except by the cohesion of its bricks. A tower will not arise except on correct foundations and solid principles. So, there are not sects in ISLAM, we should always call ourselves as Muslims, follower of Islam.

Sectarianism serves the purpose of enemies of Islam

islamicoccasions.com condemns and denounces activities that slander the wives of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his noble companions.

We believe that such actions are executed in service of the enemies of Islam who wish to exploit sensitivities and incite sectarianism amongst Muslims.

In this regard, islamicoccasions.com feels obliged to warn the community of obscure persons and organisations that intentionally take advantage of religious symbols in order to provoke tension and hostility, all the while neglecting the major challenges that face by the Muslim Ummah.

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (as) has said: "Is it sufficient for one to associate himself with Shiaism and say that, I am a lover of Ahl ul-Bayt (as)? By Allah, our Shia is not, but the one who fears Allah and obeys His Commands."

"If you wish to see one of our devotees then look for that person who abstains from sins and fears more His Creator and remains hopeful of His reward. Whenever you find such an individual then take it for granted that he is one of my devotees." (al-Kafi)

Wa Min Allah Al-Tawfiq.

Supreme Leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei: Insulting Symbols of Sunni Brothers Forbidden

World Shia Leader, Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, issued a fatwa, declared unlawful the insulting Prophet's wife Aisha, and any of the Sunni Islamic symbols.

Islamic World widely welcomed the fatwa.

The leader of Islamic revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei in response to question announced: "insulting the symbols of the Sunni brothers, including the Prophet Muhammad's wife [Aisha] is forbidden. This includes the women of all prophets and especially the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)."

Imam Khamenei's Fatwa and the Unity between Shia and Sunni

Chancellor of al-Azhar University of Islamic sciences welcomed Fatwa (verdict) issued by the World Shia Leader, Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei, which bans any insult to the companions of Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.) as well as his wives.

Such insults have always been a source of controversy and dispute between Shia and Sunni Muslims and barred them from forging a robust unity against their common enemies, unlike a multitude of commonalities between the two sects.

Ahmad al-Tayyib wrote in a statement that the fatwa was prudent and timely and would help ram the door shut to seditions.

"I received the blessed Fatwa with appreciation," he wrote.

He said it was incumbent on all Muslims to try to keep inter Muslim unity and no dispute between different Islamic sects should be allowed to harm the unity of Islamic ummah.

Tayyib also noted that Egypt has ever been at the forefront of every initiative for Muslim unity.

Western media have kept mum on the Fatwa. Source: rohama.org

Statement of Ayatullah al-Udhma Sistani (HA) on the subject of Islamic Unity and against Sectarian Strife

In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves;" [Noble Qur'an, Surah Aal-e-Imran (#3), Verse 103]

The Islamic nation is going through difficult circumstances, and facing major crises and enormous challenges affecting its present and threatening its future. Everyone is aware of this situation and needs to close ranks and reject those who fan the flames of sectarianism and we must avoid stirring sectarian differences.

Those differences that have existed for centuries, and no completely satisfactory resolution - pleasing to all parties - seems to exist, and hence should not be pursued for the sake of creating controversy and strife, but only within the framework of scientific research in a sober and in particular in a manner that does not affect the fundamentals of Islam.

Everyone believes in One God, and the message of Prophet Mustafa (S), may Allah shower His blessings upon him and his family, and in the concept of Ma'ad (Ressurection/Judgement), and the fact that the Quran - which is guarded and protected by Allah from distortion - along with the Honourable Prophetic Sunnah (Tradition) which is the source for the Shari'a (Islamic Legal) rulings and the affection for the Holy Ahl al-Bayt (A), peace be upon them, and so on; these basics are shared by the Muslims in general, among which are the pillars of Islam: Prayer, Fasting, Hajj and so on. These common concepts form the basic core for Islamic Unity. We must focus on them to establish closer bonds of love and affection between the people of this Ummah, and indeed do no less than work on peaceful co-existence amongst each other, and move away from bickering and communal and sectarian rhetoric under whatever guise or title.

So every effort must be exerted by all those concerned about the elevation and glory of Islam, and it must be promoted to the Muslims to do everything in power in order to bridge the gap between them, and alleviate the repercussions (effects) of the tensions caused by the political pressure, in order to obliterate any chance of further dissention and division. That dissension - if left untended to - would inevitably give way for the enemies' aspirations - to dominate the Islamic Countries and seize their wealth - to be fulfilled.

However, sadly and regrettably it is evident that certain people and parties are working on a completely contrasting agenda. They have been seeking to perpetuate and increase the division and foster deeper sectarian differences among Muslims. They have increased their efforts lately, especially after the recently increasing political conflicts in the region and the intensification of the fight over power and influence.

They have exerted serious efforts to elucidate and disseminate the ideological differences among different Muslim sects, going so far as to even adding their own made-up differences by methods of tucking and slander, in order to achieve their purposes of discrediting a certain sect and dis-reputing its followers, and intimidating others against them.

And in pursuit of this scheme, they have published in the media - from satellite and internet web sites, magazines and other means - strange rulings (opinions) which are offensive to some Islamic Schools and Sects. They have attributed these made-up rulings to His Eminence (Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyed Ali al-Husayni as-Sistani (HA)), in an apparent attempt to defame his authority for the sole purpose of increasing the sectarian tensions, leading to their specific goals.

The opinions of the Esteemed Sayyed (Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyed Ali al-Husayni as-Sistani (HA)), can only be taken from the reliable sources, such as books of his rulings documented and bearing his signature and seal; and they do not contain anything defaming to other Muslim sects or parties from other schools of thought. And anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of Ayatullah (HA)'s rulings can detect the outrageous lies within what is being said and published.

We can also point out to the stance and statements of His Eminence (Ayatullah al-Udhma Sayyed Ali al-Husayni as-Sistani (HA)) during the past years on the issue of the plight of wounded Iraq, as well as his commandment to his followers and imitators (muqallideen) in dealing with their brethren from the people of the Sunnah with love and respect. Also, he has recurrently stressed on the sanctification of the blood, honor and wealth of all Muslims, be they Sunnah or Shia; and that anyone who kills unjustly is to be abjured.

All of this clearly discloses the methodologies followed by this religious authority in dealing with the followers of other schools of thought, and in what light these followers are viewed. Had everyone followed the footsteps of this religious authority, things would have been different from what we are witnessing today in terms of blind violence hitting everywhere, and horrendous murders that do not exclude even young children or old people or pregnant women; and unto Allah do we complain!

We ask Allah, the Mighty, the Most High, to take the hands of all to that which is good for the Ummah and for its best interests, verily He has power and authority over all things.

The office of Ayatullah al-Udhma Sistani (HA), an-Najaf al-Ashraf, Iraq - Source: sistani.org