One God, One Book, One Prophet: Scholar Stresses Building Islamic Unity Based on Commonalities
Speaking to IQNA on the sidelines of the 37th International Islamic Unity Conference, head of the Al-Ghazali cultural center in Madagascar Abdourazak Ali Mahomad talked about the need to build unity among Muslims across the world.
Given that Muslim nations have been targeted by European countries and the US in the past 300 years, Muslim states must pay increased attention to Islamic unity because this can play a significant role in their future, he said.
"Unfortunately, some people try to sow division by promoting issues such as the rightfulness of the Shia or the priority of Sunni; I believe this is wrong," he said.
"We are all members of one community and believe in one God, one book, and one prophet and we all should build unity based on our common values," he added.
Praising the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, he said that this can happen between other Muslim nations as well.
"If we accept unity, I believe a good future awaits Muslims across the world," he said.
Ali Mahomad noted that relations between Shia and Sunni Muslims in Madagascar are good as they cooperate on various social issues.
The 37th International Islamic Unity Conference, held both in-person and online, was inaugurated at Tehran's Summit Hall on Sunday.
More than 200 Iranian and foreign intellectuals and religious figures from various Muslim countries participated in the conference, which was organized by the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought. The event concluded on October 3.
The conference is annually held during the Islamic Unity Week.
The 17th day of Rabi al-Awwal, which falls on October 3 this year, is believed by Shia Muslims to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), while Sunni Muslims regard the 12th day of the month (September 28) as the birthday of the last prophet. The interval between the two dates is celebrated every year as the Islamic Unity Week.
The late Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini (RA) declared the occasion the Islamic Unity Week back in the 1980s.
