“The Quran describes Islamic Ummah as the United Ummah”, Iranian university proffesor

“Faranak Qodsi”, professor at Farhangian University of Sanandaj, Iran, in her speech at 37th International Islamic Unity Conference, noted that Islam contributed to the revival of man’s real and genuine identity and mentioned some important commonalities that exist in Islamic societies and also obstacles of commonalities, reported Taghrib News Agency (TNA).

She referred to the concept of the United Ummah as the first important commonalities that exist in Islamic societies and said: “The Holy Quran describes Islamic Ummah as the United Ummah. It orders Muslims to be united and to cooperate with each other. The Holy Quran recommends Muslims to know each other and support their fellow Muslim brothers and sisters in moving towards salvation and evolution.”

Regarding to Unity she continued: “The Holy Quran has referred to the issue of unity among Muslims and considers it as a major principle. According to the Holy Quran, unity among Muslims increases their power.”

“It emphasizes that unity among Muslims empowers them and lack of unity leads Muslims towards failure and collapse. Unity is created out of brotherhood, friendship, and faith”, Qodsi added.

“Another important principle which is commonly accepted by all Muslims is the principle of monotheism or Towhid. This principle is the most important principle that distinguishes Islamic societies from other societies”, she said.

She mentioned power as the next important principle and said: “Due to the beliefs derived from rich sources such as the Holy Quran and the tradition of the Holy Prophet of Islam (PBUH), Muslims have obtained intellectual and ideological unity. They have become so powerful that racial, linguistic, and material differences among them are not considered as a threat against their unity and integrity.”

The professor at Farhangian University of Sanandaj pointed out about freedom that “in Islamic societies, each individual human being obeys no one except the almighty God. Man is free to do whatever he wants; however, he should only obey the almighty God. For this reason, man should always be esteemed.”

“Another major principle which all Muslims believe in it is the principle of justice. The Islamic society is established based on justice. In this society, Muslims feel that they are blessed with security and welfare”, she stressed.

“The relationship among Muslims in an Islamic society is based on the religious beliefs of its citizens. Betrayal and breach of contract are rejected in this relationship. In the Islamic society, balance prevails, although we should not ignore abilities and talents of individual citizens”, Qodsi continued.

She mentioned solidarity and empathy in Islamic societies as another principle and added: “this solidarity and empathy must exist from the family level up to the bottom of society. The responsibility of the powerful towards the weak and powerless in areas such as collecting Zakat or taxes.”

Obstacles of unity in Islamic societies
“The most important reason which leads to the emergence of conflicts in the Islamic world is the fact that Muslims forget monotheism in practice. Some rulers in Islamic countries are only looking for wealth and power”, Faranak Qodsi said.

She said that is lack of an accurate understanding of the concept of freedom is another obstacle that those who are not behaving moderately impose heavy costs on the Islamic society and their extremism creates numerous problems for the Islamic Ummah.

“Another obstacle is the lack of mutual obligation or the prevalence of individualism which causes conflict. In Islamic societies, Muslims are responsible towards each other and have mutual obligation. All of us should consider ourselves responsible towards the rest of the society”, professor at Farhangian University of Sanandaj noted.

She noted cultural hegemony of arrogant powers as another major obstacle of creating unity among Muslims and said: “the enemies of the Islamic world pursue their cultural hegemony policies through various means which they have at their disposal. They are eagerly interested in imposing their own cultural values on Islamic societies.”

“Another factor which has undermined unity in the Islamic world is the fact that some officials in Islamic countries are corrupt persons. As a result, Muslims in these Islamic countries will no longer trust in their leaders. It leads to the collapse of social unity in the Islamic countries”, Qodsi continued.

She added that lack of equal opportunities and resources for all citizens is the next obstacle that furthers the distance between the rich and the poor which leads to confrontation in the society.

“We can take advantage of potentials and capacities which exist in Islamic societies. Religious scholars can play a vitally important role in creating unity among Muslims. The youth, the academia and the elite women have great potentials and capacities which should be utilized in order to further strengthening unity among Muslims", Faranak Qodsi concluded,