RNA – Hujjat al-Islam Sayyed Ali Qazi-Askar, the representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei) for Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs and the supervisor of the Iranian pilgrims in Makkah, has stated that the enemies of Islam are trying to destroy the unity of the Islamic community.
During a Hajj seminar held with Iranian pilgrims in the holy city of Makkah, Hujjat al-Islam Qazi-Askar explained that the enemies of Islam seek to raise sedition and discord among Muslims of various sects in order to disunite the Islamic community. The participants included both Iranian Shi’ite and Sunni pilgrims.
His Eminence explained that foreign countries, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States, play a key role in weakening Muslim unity, and the looting of their money and wealth. He stated that Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims must realize the conspiracies of the enemies, stressing that the Western media, especially that in London, uses all its capabilities to propagate sectarianism between Muslims and to break their unity. Their scheme against Muslim unity involves the propagation the abuse of holy personalities of both Shi’ites and Sunnis.
Hujjat al-Islam Qazi-Askar said that the Muslim world is suffering from the abuses of the misinterpretation of Islam. He stated that there are so-called Muslims who support actions hostile to Islam and consider these actions consistent with shari’ah (Islamic law). He added that unfortunately in some Muslim countries, support the so-called “jihad an-nikkah” or sex/marriage jihad and the buying and selling of both Muslim and non-Muslim women and girls.
He added that these behaviours and positions are rejected by all scholars of Islam – from both the Shi’ite and Sunni sects. His Eminence emphasized that it is against Islamic teachings to offend the sensitivities and holy personalities of other religions, and that many Shi’ite sources of emulation have issued fatwas or religious edicts stating that it is religiously forbidden to abuse personalities held in esteem by our Sunni brethren, even if we do not hold them in such esteem.
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