Suggestions for bringing Sunnis and Shias closer to each other
The following are simple, but useful, suggestions for making a contribution to the prospect of improving Sunni-Shi’ah relations.
Do not generalise any group of people. Neither Sunnis nor Shias are angels – including yourself. But neither are they devils. Almighty Allah is the only Judge.
Learn about true Islam based on its most authentic sources: the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah. Everything else is either understanding, internalisation, explanation, commentary, or the implementation of those heavenly sources. For example, neither Muslim politics, nor jurisprudence (fiqh), nor Islamic culture, nor civilisation, is Islam. Islam and Muslims are to be kept apart most of the time – unfortunately. Correspondingly, neither Sunnism nor Shi’ism is Islam’s perfect epitome.
The designations of Sunnism and Shi’ism, though in some contexts meaningful, are artificial. A person will never enter Allah’s Paradise (Jannah) on the strength of his being a Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Salafi, Ibadi, Wahhabi, Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, Hanbali, etc. Only those whom Allah has categorised for the purpose will enter Jannah, such as believers, the righteous, the virtuous, the God-fearing, doers of good, martyrs, etc. Never compromise the essential for the unessential, and the fundamental for the secondary.
Learn about Muslim history, but only from as authentic and reliable sources as possible, for there is no man-created historical source that is completely sound and foolproof. Always view particularly dramatic and consequential historical episodes against the backdrop of the message and spirit of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Reps set up ad-hoc committee to probe N5 trillion crude theft
Let the revealed knowledge and your sound reason and logic lead you throughout, rather than fluctuating emotions and passions. This is so because emotions in certain critical situations could be dangerous and could lead astray. Vital civilizational constituents are not thus built. People might be willing, ready and excited, but mere willingness, readiness and excitement are never enough. They follow their emotional impulses, but what is definitely needed most are the internalisation and rationalisation of those emotions. Many people simply think with their hearts, not their heads. Whereas civilisations are constructed mainly with, and of, inclusive ideas, knowledge and value systems, coupled with strategized programmes and plans, sentiments and emotions will bring a person, or a nation, only as far as they can go.
Moreover, make sure you do not fall prey to the temptation of precast ideas, speculations and assumptions, nor to the menace of bias, fanaticism and intolerance. Promise yourself and Almighty Allah that you will be as committed and honest in your pursuits as possible.
Remember, likewise, that Islam does not entertain myths, legends, fictions and any unfounded and irrational tales. So genuine, actual and sensible is Islam to do so.
When reading, discussing, writing about, or dealing directly or indirectly with any of the Sunni-Shia problems and issues, remember that you cannot stop the waves, but can learn to surf and swim. Keep in mind that most Sunni-Shia questions are not of a black-and-white nature because they do not deal with the pillars, or fundamentals, of religion.
Rise somewhat to an extreme vantage point and wonder if it is possible to stop seeing Sunni-Shia disagreements and disputes as a threat, seeing them, instead, as an opportunity for mutual understanding, enrichment and cooperation in certain neutral life segments. Everyone needs friends and allies, and in today’s exceptionally turbulent times for Islam and Muslims, the best allies for any Muslim group will be the other fellow Muslims.
Aren’t believing in One Allah, following the same Prophet (pbuh), reading the same Qur’an and facing the same qiblah sufficient for creating a common ground for any sort of dialogue and any degree of partnership against the avowed enemies of everything that both Sunnis and Shias live for? In so doing, all parties can gradually come closer to each other in other more sensitive and difficult areas as well.
Furthermore, when dealing or conversing with someone who you disagree with, prioritise issues and your responses to them. Do not make a mountain out of a molehill; that is, do not have recourse to over-reactive and histrionic behaviors, making too much of minor issues. Every disagreement need not morph into an issue or a hindrance. Exercise patience in the process, lower your expectations and call to mind that both Sunnis and Shias need each other. They are closer to one another than it seems, certainly much closer than to any of their actual and potential enemies who, having mastered the art of deceit, tend to hypocritically present themselves as allies.
Thus, a series of unconditional, earnest and sincere Sunni-Shia dialogues is a must. Yet, such could be regarded as a collective religious obligation. The sooner the matter kicks off, the better. Obviously, such is the current Muslim situation that both mainstream Sunnis and Shias are set to lose nothing thereby, gaining almost everything.
It is startling that many Muslims proudly call for and actively participate in dialogues with Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, etc., establishing numerous bodies and institutions, and spending a fortune worldwide for the purpose – which is downright appropriate and praiseworthy – but spurn the prospect of doing the same with their coreligionists.
Again, Sunnis and Shias have more in common than what appears to casual observers. What can genuinely unite or bring them closer to one another greatly outweighs that which at present painfully alienates and separates them. The latter must be meticulously reviewed and re-evaluated against the backdrop of the former.
Dr Omer is an Associate Professor at the International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM). Source: IslamiCity.
and then