We call everyone to unity and solidarity, and the meaning of unity is to emphasize the common grounds. However, some people think that unity means that they should give up their own sect and accept the faith of other sects, which is not, in fact, true.
In his meeting with Shaykh Ahmad az-Zayan, a Lebanese Sunni scholar and the leader of the Assembly of Muslim Scholars, Grand Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stressed on the many commonalties between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims, and stated: “Your honour is our honour and your triumph is our triumph; Muslim people are, in fact, a united people who have to assist and aid each other. Everyone has to assist and aid the Muslim people in Lebanon and all other Muslim people.”
Emphasizing the fact that today the unity of the Muslim people is the most important issue, His Eminence noted: “The commonalities have to be greatly emphasized and they have to be used as the axis of our unity and we should not confront each other; rather, we should be united against our enemies so that Allah would grant us victory.”
He stated: “We call everyone to unity and solidarity, and the meaning of unity is to emphasize the common grounds. However, some people think that unity means that they should give up their own sect and accept the faith of other sects, which is not, in fact, true.”
His Eminence referred to the Hajj rituals as the symbol of the unity of the Muslim people and stated: “Muslim people share so many common rituals during Hajj, such as the rituals they perform in Arafah, Masha’ar, Mina, the ritual circumambulation, and the ritual running between Safa and Marwah, and the like. Thus, the differences between Muslim people are very few.”
His Eminence further stated: “Today, logics and wisdom dictated that all Muslims respect the sanctities of other sects; of course there are some extremist laity in all sects who intend to create divisions; however they should be given no regard and the astuteness of the Muslim people will not allow them to succeed.”
He, then, added: “I reiterate that it is not permissible to insult the sanctities of other sects; we have written this and have informed the scholars of the Muslim countries about this.”
His Eminence further said: “This is the route that should be taken, otherwise we will have to witness more innocent blood spilled and more destructions caused in the Muslim countries, which is something no one in their sound minds would allow.”
In the end, his Eminence prayed for the success of Shaykh Ahmad az-Zayan, this brave and cognizant man.
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