Iranian thinker Ms. Seyyedeh Nafiseh Hosseini Vaez noted that unity and Islamic integrity are the most essential Islamic concepts, which have been referred to in different ways in the Quran.
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds
Praise and greeting to God, Muhammad and his descendants
Hold fast together to the cable of Allah and be not divided.
Remember the blessing that Allah bestowed upon you: you were once enemies then He brought your hearts together, so that through His blessing you became brothers. You stood on the brink of a pit of fire and He delivered you from it. Thus does God make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.
Unity and Islamic integrity are the most essential Islamic concepts, which have been referred to in different ways in Quran. The verse I mentioned at the beginning of my speech is an example. There are yet many other verses in this connection, which have received diversity of interpretations. The following verses are other instances:
Hold fast together to the cable of Allah
Surely the believers are only brothers
Thus, have We made of you an Ummat justly balanced.
Such phrases in Holy Quran as “Taavano (Help one another),’ `Hizbollah,’ and `Fallazina Allafa Allah Bayna Gholoobehem (And He has united their (i.e., believers') hearts.),’ signify the need for unity and solidarity in Islamic communities. No doubt, unity and integrity are highly important today that Muslims follow various religions. Muslims will achieve unity only through proximity. Therefore, proximity of Islamic schools of thought has always been the only way to achieve Muslims’ unity, which is the most pivotal element in Quran. The late Imam Khomeini says that’s the only issue which is outstanding all over Quran.
Proximity among Islamic schools of thought is the only way to strengthen Islam and encourage unique Islamic Ummah. Based on Quranic verses, it is the only way to attain this pure life. Diversity of schools of though and lack of understanding among Muslims have unfortunately tarnished real image of pure Mohammadan Islam in the eyes of the world people. Therefore, realization of the motto of proximity of Islamic schools of thought, whose requisite is true unity of Muslims, will help present to the world people a bright image of Islam, which is the school of justice and peace.
For such an introduction, we should use the world potential. We are now at a time when connection among human beings have become so easy because of spread of virtual space. So, the world has become smaller and now even enemies of Islam have rolled up sleeves to win all human beings. There is an analysis for expansion of virtual space, thus turning the world into a global village. They plan to remove Islam and unfortunately, they use all their facilities. Now, Muslims are required to use the potential available and strive for promotion of divine goals and bringing Muslims closer to each other. In fact, they should turn the threat into an opportunity.
In such a space, we can promote Islamic rituals. Now I am going to provide you with several examples:
In virtual space, we can advertise a peaceful life based on Islamic ethics, freedom thinking and culture of tolerance and patience and using disrespect of Muslims. We can use the facilities to promote unity and proximity.
Today, we can promote culture of pure Mohammadan Islam in the so-called virtual space, which is in fact a real space.
Islam advises the faithful to observe tolerance so as to avoid tension and differences between people and society. It teaches us that the wisest individuals are those who are the most tolerant people. Holy Prophet (PBUH) of Islam says, “The most disgraceful of people is he who humiliates others.”
One more tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says after faith in God, the most important pillar of man’s rationality is tolerance. A person is known for his tolerance. It covers a more extensive field. Tolerance is the mission of prophets. We ignore those who are hostile against Islam and wish to uproot it. We only consider the people who are not much hostile. These people have been advised to be tolerant. Islam says tolerance is the distinctive feature of the wisest man. That’s a good idea to use virtual space to expand pure Islamic culture. All prophets, especially Prophet of Islam, were bent on the same issue. Tolerance is so much important that is considering among obligatory duties. The prophet said prophets have the mission to show tolerance towards people and fulfil their divine duties. Imam Sadeq (AS) quoted Jibreel once telling Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), “O Mohammad! Your lord has sent you regards and a message. God has asked you to tolerate people.” Once God commissioned Moses (AS) to go to Pharoah and speak with him with tolerance and a soft voice. “Go, both of you, to Fir'aun (Pharaoh), verily, he has transgressed (all bounds in disbelief and disobedience and behaved as an arrogant and as a tyrant).”
God told Moses (AS) that Pharoah has transgressed; go and speak with him in a soft voice. Today, we should use the so-called accessible space to promote a culture, which Muslims are in dire need of it.
Besides tolerance, which we are in dire need of it for the sake of proximity, we need patience. God invites prophet of Islam (PBUH) to patience. Allameh Tabatabaei says in his book al-Mizan, “By patience, God meant extent of his view because he had the potential for revelation. This is so much important that Moses received the mission to guide people. The first blessing which Moses asks God to grant him was patience. Moses said: “Lord! Open my breast for me.” He meant that as a prophet, who deals with people to promote God’s message and guide and lead them, grant me patience to guide people. Today, enemies of Islam plan to deprive Muslims from patience. Absolutely, if tolerance and patience are faded and perished, civil wars and religions and sectarian wars will take place God forbidden not. Unfortunately, such a thing has happened in certain countries. Some traditions refer to patience as a virtue. God grants it to people if they are to be guided. Moses (AS) says God chooses one of his servants to improve affairs of people and grants him patience. Imam Ali (AS) highlights features of a faithful and says a faithful is unhappy at heart but happy in face. Such a person is more patient and does not take patience as a tool for supremacy. Anybody wishing to be head of a government should be more patient.
Such positive features as fulfilment of promises, self-restraint, and modesty are highlighted in traditions as reference is made to patience. These are the points which one needs to take into consideration in attempts to reach Islamic unity and the proximity that enemies wish to attain. Enemies use virtual space and we should change the threat into an opportunity. Enemy uses virtual space to desecrate sanctities and insult human beings. The sworn enemies have put satellite and virtual space at the disposal of diversionary sectarian groups and they are repeatedly insult sanctities of different Islamic schools of thought, including Shiites and Sunnis. We are now today witnessing part of them and massacre of Muslims. A look at pure Islam and pure Mohammadan Islam reveals that Islam is strongly against insult and disrespect. Islam is sensitive even towards sanctities of those who do not have divine religion. Suppose an idol worshipper, who is pagan, saying not to curse the idol. God says do not ridicule two people, who have faith.
Quran cautions against calling each other with bad nicknames. Verse 11 of Surah Hujurat says, “O ye who believe! Let not a folk deride a folk who may be better than they (are).”
“Not let women (deride) women who may be better than they are.” Quran says there might be a woman ridiculing another woman, who might be better than the former.
“Neither defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames.” Quran cautions the faithful not to address each other with indecent words and not to reprimand each other. God says the faithful will never be so.
These are what enemies are today preaching in satellite networks and virtual space. They constantly insinuate Muslims. They want to pit different schools of thought and ethnic groups against each other. Imam Sadeq (AS) says it is worth how to behave the people who live with us and the non-Shiite Muslims. He says return back their trust; testify about their profit and loss, visit their patients, take part in their funerals and this is culture of Islam and registering Islamic life. Such a life style should be promoted among Muslims in different Islamic communities. Absolutely, sworn enemies will have no place and all their plans will be thwarted. God Willing.
God willing, we will try to use the opportunity and also the opportunity which has been provided for us by the virtual space in the best possible manner. Hope that Muslims will seize the chance available and the virtual space in the bet possible manner to offer Islamic life style. Using the opportunity, hope to present Islamic life style, culture of patience, not insulting religions of ethnic groups and appreciation of good temperedness, and modesty and thwart all enemy goals, so that they will not be able to use the capacity of Muslims.
Hope that God will help us all to attain Islamic proximity and unity of all the world of Islam. This way, we may be able to present pure Mohammadan Islam to the world people and guide the freedom loving people in this divine religion.
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you all.
