Shia-Sunni Unity for World Peace

BY TANVEER JAFRI 

About the Author: Author Tanveer Jafri is a columnist based in India. He is related with hundreds of most popular daily news papers/portals in India and abroad. Jafri, Almost writes in the field of communal harmony, world peace, anti communalism, anti terrorism, national integration, national & international politics etc. He is a devoted social activist for world peace, unity, integrity & global brotherhood. Tanveer Jafri is also a member of Haryana Sahitya Academy & Haryana Urdu Academy (state govt. bodies in India). Thousands articles of the author have been published in different newspapers, websites & news portals throughout the world. He is also a recipient of so many awards in the field of Communal Harmony & other social activities.
(Email : tanveerjafriamb@gmail.com ) 

Religion Islam outwardly seems as a single sect & generally all its followers are called the Muslims. But reality lies somewhere else. Undoubtedly, the Muslims are one in following the basic principles such as one Allah (God), One Qur'aan, One Hajj, and Namaz (Prayer) for five times a day, Roza (Fast) & Zakaat. Usually all the Muslims who have religious attitude try to follow these basic principles. But in reality, the Islam religion that seems one, as historical paradoxes go on, is divided in 73 different sects. The two sects - The Shiites & the Sunnies, are the major sects. Besides the Shiites & the Sunnies, many different groups can be seen in them. As there is no confusion in the different groups about these five basic principles so one thing is clear that during its origin period the Islam was one sect & was not divided in many groups.

According to the Islamic history, Hazrat Mohammad was founder of the Islam. After his death, from time to time, there were new controversies to guide the Islam. The followers of the religious leaders of that time, started to form the different sects. The differences for the religious leadership & a try to form different groups & organizations can easily be seen in other religions also. The result of these attempts helped the formation of the Shia & the Sunni groups. After the time, when Mohammad Sahib had left for the heavenly abode, a group of the Muslims accepted Hazrat Ali, who was nephew & son in law too, the most near & the most trustworthy of Hazrat Mohammad, as leader of the Islam & according to the Islamic tardyons, the first Imam. On the other side, some near ones of Hazrat Mohammad, instead of accepting the Imamat regime, announced the Khilafat regime & brought forward four Islamic Khalifas (chiefs), one after another, before the Islamic world. They were Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Omar, Hazrat Usmaan & after that Hazrat Ali. It was done in the capacity of their being as the Islamic leaders. Here one thing to be noticed is that the followers of Khilafat regime (The Sonnies) accepted Hazrat Ali as their fourth Khalifa whereas the followers of Imamat regime (Shiites) didn't agree to the formation of Khilafat in the Islam. Here started the Shia & the Sunni groups in the Islam. The followers of Khilafat were called the Sunnies whereas the followers of the tradition of Imamat were called the Shiites.

Anyhow, the Islam got divided in 73 groups in the long journey of its 1450 years. But mainly the Shiites & the Sunnies were the strong opponents of each other. Even, there had been many bloody conflicts between them & are still going on there. Undoubtedly the word 'Islamic terrorism' has been brought to the common man after the event of 9/11, by media & by opponents of the Islam. But in reality, the terrorism in the Islam has made its place, hundreds of years ago, as the result of the Shia-Sunni struggle. The Shia-Sunni sects have been shedding the blood of each other in the countries like Iraq, Pakistan & India too. Because of these community struggles, many different organizations have come into existence. Even different terrorist organizations have been set up. The aim of these organizations is to kill the members of other organizations & spread terrorism. As a result of the activities of these organizations, there have been many happenings of shooting at & killing the Muslims while they were praying. In all, these community conflicts have strengthened the use of adjective terrorism against Islam. These conflicts proved helpful in affronting the Islam.

A very unfortunate aspect of this event is that on the names of the Shia & the Sunni, the quack religious leaders of both the communities have tried to worsen the issue. For the last one thousand years, the quacks of both these communities, the Shia & the Sunni have been making inciting speeches against the other. They state some false & some true stories, among their followers in such a way that the followers of other community may be insulted & in this way they try to prove that their own side is true & near to reality. I feel nothing bad to state that the quacks of both the communities have widened the difference of the Shiites & the Sunnis as only source of their bread & butter. Because of this selfish attitude, lakhs of the Shiites & the Sunnis have been killed during these conflicts. Not only this, the international powers that want to show down the Muslim world have got strength from this difference. The present Iraq event & the coming Iran events can be seen with this reference.

The dividing powers & the quacks in the every group of the Islamic world are trying to divide it. it is not wrong to say that the Islam, because of the nearsightedness & inflaming speeches of these quacks have reached a point where even non-Muslims that used to respect the Islam, are surprised to see it at such a place. But there are some highly educated religious leaders & thinkers among those Muslims who are in favour of sinking the Historical differences. One of such religious leaders is Dr. Kalbe Sadiq. Dr. Kalbe Sadiq, who is at present, Vice President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, last days made a historical declaration that he will pay the next Eid prayer in the Sunni mosque & with the Sunni preacher. The peace loving people & preachers are happy over this declaration of Dr. Sadiq. Dr. Sadiq argues that when we the Muslims of all groups gather on one day, at one time & follows the rites of Hajj in one way then why after returning from Hajj, our mosques, our faiths & our traditions become different. The chief leader of the Islamic revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini was also in favour of this idea, that the Shiites & the Sunnies people can offer prayers with preacher of one another's sect. the former Imam of Shahi Jama Mosque in India; Abdullah Bukhari also favoured this idea. But after the death of Khomeini, no religious leader of any sect came forward to fulfill this mission.

It should be hoped that the effort started by Dr. Kalbe Sadiq in India, for Shia-Sunni unity will not go in vain. It should also be hoped that in a vast country like India where there lives the major part of the Muslim population of the world will prove this message an example for the unity of the Islamic world & all the Islamic groups will be inspired from it. All the Muslims will feel proud to follow one God, one Qurân & offer Namaz in one mosque. If all the Muslims in the world get unity & knowledge, the day will not be far of when there will be a change in the politics & condition of the world. Shia-Sunni unity can prove a big step to finish the terrorism in the world. The need is only to favour the religious leaders like Dr. Kalbe Sadiq, who are lovers of unity & peace. There is also need of coming forward of all such religious leaders in other groups such as Dr. Kalbe Sadiq. There is also a strong need of giving a strong opposition to those quacks religious leaders who oppose such efforts of unity. Muslim society should boycott them.