Dr kamal Towfiq Halbawi, senior member of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and former spokesperson of the organization in an exclusive interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA) highlighted proximity as the first major step for the Islamic nation to gain unity and that in fact proximity was a prelude for unity.

Dr kamal Towfiq Halbawi, senior member of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and former spokesperson of the organization in an exclusive interview with Taqrib News Agency (TNA) highlighted proximity as the first major step for the Islamic nation to gain unity and that in fact proximity was a prelude for unity.
 
Unity from the view of this Egyptian scholar is a return to dignity, honor and Islamic fraternity. 

Q: What is the difference between proximity and unity and is it possible that the Muslim nation achieves both at the same time? 

A: Proximity is the first major step for the Muslim nation towards unity and in fact proximity is a prelude to achieve unity and achieving unity means a return to honor, dignity and fraternity among Muslims. Unity means putting an end to the plans of the arrogant powers that are after tearing the Muslim nation into pieces. 

Proximity can realize without the need for vanishing the borderlines and Muslims can come to solidarity by maintaining their belief in Islam. 

Proximity means that Muslims sit together to bring forth their commonalities and achieve unity at the end. 

Q: How in practice can proximity realize in the world? 

A: In order to realize proximity in practice one has to have sincerity in his intentions and his performance. Muslims have to learn the culture of dialogue and by learning the principles of Islam and avoiding the issues which might fan the differences, they can achieve proximity. 

They have to avoid meaningless prejudices and found unity in Muslim world by advertising this blissful culture. 

Q: How do you assess the role of the governments in bringing unity and solidarity among Muslims? 

A: Muslim governments have to spare no effort in developing the culture of proximity. Governments play an important role and they have to distance with political interests in order to and think of bringing proximity among Muslims. 

Governments have to ask for help from the religious scholars and support their efforts in this field. 

Q: To what extent do you think holding Islamic unity conference useful in bringing convergence among Muslims? 

A: Holding unity conference is very important. During the recent years these conferences have been developed to the point that even in western countries such conferences are held and they play an important role in discussing issues and challenges of the Muslim world which ends in finding solutions for them. 

You can see that in the Islamic Center of Britain in London, Islamic Unity conference is held and this is the result of the efforts of Muslim scholars. 

Islamic Unity conferences are quite effective in developing the culture of unity and can promise a brilliant future for Muslim world although one should not suffice to conferences and has to follow the achievements in practice, too. 

Q: How do you assess the role of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought and its unifying plans in international arena? 

A: The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought has been quite active in bringing convergence among Muslim scholars and this convergence can create closeness between the followers of Islamic schools of thought. 

In accordance with the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought and its experiences, we try to realize our unifying plans and we hope that we can witness unity of all Islamic countries and that honor and glory of Islam dominates the whole world again. 

Q: Has the uprising of the Egyptian people achieved its objectives? 

A: We hope that wishes of the Egyptian people realize soon and it does look possible. 

As an Egyptian I am so happy to witness the topple of Egypt's dictator, Hosni Mubarak. 

As the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran called him na-Mubarak (Not blissful, opposite to blissful which means Mubarak in Persian), he was not blissful for the Egyptian nation.
 
Independence of Egypt depends on the efforts of the Egyptian nation and may God help there is a way in front of the country and the people so that like the Iranian nation they strive for their freedom and set themselves free of western countries and the Zionists.