Whither Islamic Unity

On the occasion of Islamic Unity Week marking the Birthday of the Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny), Iran’s English language daily Kayhan International points to the lackadaisical, if not divisive, attitude of most regimes ruling Muslim states, despite the fact the Islamic Republic of Iran has spared no efforts to promote the solidarity of the Ummah, in its Viewpoint Column titled: “Whither Islamic Unity”.

The Daily quoting ayah 103 of Surah Aal-e Imran of the holy Qur’an which says "Hold fast, all together, to Allah’s cord, and do not be divided…”, writes: “This is God’s explicit command to the Muslim ummah – if not to the whole mankind – but what we see today is a world wracked by tensions and divisions because of the greed for power and hegemony by persons and regimes unaware of their eventual fate.

“In this age of science and technology, when man has begun to explore outer space, humanity could have taken a leaf from the teachings of such Great Messengers as Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad (peace upon them), to transform Planet Earth into a place of peace, prosperity and co-existence.

“Unfortunately, the situation has worsened, especially with the rise to power of devilish elements in many countries, the prime example being Donald Trump of the US, an avowed enemy of all humanitarian, ethical and spiritual values, as is evident by the obscene language he uses and the lies he shamelessly heaps on Islam and Muslims.

“The irony is that, such a devilish megalomaniac is being called ‘a friend of Muslims’ by some so-called Muslim rulers who have not only laid at Trump’s feet hundreds of billions of dollars of the looted wealth of their deprived people, but are using the deadly weapons supplied by the US and Britain to slaughter fellow Muslims, especially in Yemen.”

Kayhan International asked: “Is this how we show respect for the Seal of Messengers, whose blessed birthday all Muslims, except the heretical Wahhabis are celebrating, and who expressed the famous phrase:  "The one who is indifferent to the plight of Muslims is not a Muslim?”

“So, where is the Islamic Ummah’s conscience? Why have Muslims become indifferent to the plight of Muslims?

“Aren’t the Saudis in open dalliance with that other archenemy of Islam and Muslims, the illegal Zionist entity?     

“Isn’t the goal of Riyadh to try to undermine, if not break, the legendary anti-terrorist movement, Hezbollah of Lebanon, which recently routed the Daesh terrorists in Syria and over the years has proved to be the only effective bulwark against Israel’s designs in the region?

“Doesn’t a day passes when MBS (Mohammad bin Salman the self-imposed Heir Apparent of Saudi Arabia) or his Jewish-looking foreign minister Adel Jubeir, bark threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran to the thunderous applause of the enemies of Islam?

“What has the Islamic Republic of Iran done over the past 38 years to be the target of accusations of heads of regimes who owe their existence to the West?

“Hasn’t Iran been advocating Islamic solidarity since the triumph of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 by marking the Last Friday of Fasting Ramadhan as "World Qods Day” in order to mobilize Muslims all over the world for the cherished goal of liberation of Islam’s former qibla, Bayt al-Moqaddas, and all of Zionist-usurped Palestine?”

“Didn’t it take practical steps in this regard to assist Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other combative Palestinian organisations?

“Which country has spared no efforts to bring world Muslims, irrespective of the difference among the schools of jurisprudence, on the single platform of Islamic unity by inviting scholars of various denominations and declaring Islamic Unity Week to bridge the two dates of Rabi al-Awwal (12th for the Sunnis and 17th for the Shi’as) said to be the blessed birthday of the Mercy unto the whole mankind, Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny?”

The Daily said: “These are among the questions that demand express and explicit answers. Unless the Muslims, including religious leaders, politicians, scholars and laymen, summon the courage to seriously study and tackle the roots of the ills plaguing the Muslim World, neither the enthusiastic celebrations marking the Prophet’s birthday will have any meaning, nor is the Prophet pleased with us the Muslims.

“The Holy Qur’an clearly states in ayah 11 of Surah Ra’d: "Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition.”

“The message is obvious. It is time the Muslim masses stopped their simplicity and started serious contemplation to discern right from wrong. They should stand against those manipulating their political leaders, pseudo scholars, and the press with monetary grants, while openly consorting with the archenemies of Islam and working feverishly to splinter Muslim ranks in the interests of US imperialism and international Zionism.

It is time Muslims awoke from their deep slumber and make collective efforts to change their condition by pondering on the formula of Islamic Unity as bequeathed to humanity by the Prophet of Peace for making the Ummah a formidable force, especially the famous Hadith Thaqalayn, mentioned in all authoritative Sunni and

Shi’a texts, and which reads:

"I am leaving behind among you the Thaqalayn (Two Weighty Things), the Book of Allah (Qur’an) and my progeny the Ahl al-Bayt; hold fast to them and you will never go astray, for the two never part with each other even though they return to me at the Fountain (on Resurrection Day).”

AS/MG