Throughout the history of Islam, disagreement among different Islamic countries or denominations, have set as one of the basic problems that have truly hurt the unity of Islamic nation. Although in some times pacifist figures like Seyed Jamal al Din Asadabadi, political and Islamic figure, his student Sheikh Mohammad Abduh and some other figures have struggled for boosting Islamic solidarity or Sheikh Mohammad Shaltout, grand Mufti of Al Azhar, who recognized Shia in the same rank as Sunni Islam and has to be hailed as a pioneer of Islamic unity.

Contrary to these unifying efforts by Shia and Sunni clerics, Islamic governments and nations have always been trapped by disunity and the way for looting Islamic countries and fueling sectarian disagreements was paved.

The great movement of Imam Khomeini (RA) in 1342 and victory of Islamic Revolution in 1357 injected a new spirit of Islamic unity into the veins of Muslim communities.

Late Imam Khomeini (RA) stressed necessity of Islamic unity by inviting all Muslim nations to note monotheism; hence, the role of Imam Khomeini (RA) in boosting unity among Muslims and formation of a unified Islamic nation is undeniable.

In the same line, the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, highlighted necessity of unity among Muslims when many Sunni clerics, for their part, tactfully blocked the way for intrigues of the arrogant powers. Among these efforts the recent stance of Sunni clerics in Al Azhar to condemn the terror attacks of excommunicating movements against Shia in Egypt is notable. Maintaining such stances can alleviate religious violence against Shia though realization of unity among Muslims summons a collective move by all Muslim scholars.

Recently, we have witnessed the launch of Shiaphobia and anti-Shia projects as well as religious clashes by world arrogant powers led by the US and Zionist regime. In cooperation with extremist Takfiri groups, they have carried out several crimes in different Islamic countries. What is quite notable is ignorance of many Muslim scholars that have led to spread of religious violence across Muslim countries. Disunity of Muslims and provocation of Muslims against each other leads to weakening of Muslims against their true enemy, the Zionist regime, which is the most important objective of the US in the Middle East.

Therefore, Muslim scholars have to notice the Zionist regime as the true enemy of Islam and prevent Islamic communities from disunity and spread of religious clashes. All Muslim clerics are also mandated to move in the path of Islamic unity and confrontation with anti-Islamic and anti-Qur’anic thoughts of the Salafis.

Recently the attack by extremist Salafis to a religious gathering of the Shia in Egypt led to the martyrdom of four Shia Muslims including prominent Egyptian cleric, Sheikh Hassan Shahatah. The incident have left a broken heart for the Muslims and the one who should be blamed for this incident is he who stresses religious violence or takes a neutral stance regarding the recent incidents and other violence by the Salafis in other countries.

Why should the ignorance of some Egyptian authorities pave the way for extremist Salafis to spread Shia phobia and religious clashes? Why should the project of Shia killing in Bahrain be censored by the media, even by the Arab media and the so-called claimants of democracy? Why should the extremist Takfiri groups in Lebanon kill the Shia and Alawits?

Certainly Muslim scholars have to condemn these attacks and voice their anger from the intrigues and crimes of the enemies so that the enemies fail in their plots to bring disunity among Muslims.

The role of some supporters of Takfiri groups and those who provoke terrorist groups in Muslim world should not be forgotten.

The whole problem is doubled by those so-called Muslim scholars who provoke Muslims based on the plots of the enemies.

In conclusion, all Muslim scholars have to be invited to boost their Islamic unity and more Islamic proximity summits should be held to put an end to religious clashes in Muslim countries.

Hence, involvement of all Muslim scholars in condemnation of the recent brutalities of Salafi groups against Shia and other Muslims would pave the way for boosting of Islamic solidarity; however, the neutral stance of high Islamic figures will undoubtedly lead to intensification of dispersion and religious clashes.

May the unity of all Muslim scholars stabilizes peace and tranquility among Islamic communities and increase fraternity among Muslims.

HK