Triggering Sectarian Incitements: Defeated Gears of War

Division is not just a crisis that destroys stability. It is more of a strong weapon an enemy could make use of to take control over an entire situation.

As obtaining missiles, cannons, shells and tanks, and achieving prosperity would worry an enemy; preserving unity and accord would horrify it. Therefore, just as it works on destroying its opponent's armament and military capability, it equally works on triggering incitements to break down any kind of accord and support.

This strategy is a universal strategy of war, for it devastates an entire community. However, the type of incitements varies from one region to another based on each country's demography; where it could be sectarian in one place, religious, ideological, or racist in another.

If we take the Islamic nation in specific and its current critical situation, triggered conflict between the major Islamic sects in it -Sunnis and Shiites- plays an extensive role in facilitating the American intervention and control over it.

Knowing that these nations' sectarian conflicts are triggered only when an external force or occupier draws plans for fulfilling certain greedy interests.

Different Islamic communities have been witnessing internal sectarian conflicts that elicit for a while, but most of which instantly cool off.

Recently, various failing efforts have  been made to disrupt the shaky regional stability. However, the latest attempt that triggered the situation came from a Kuwaiti Sheikh residing in the UK, who publicly offended Prophet Mohammad's wife Aisha.

In a wise step that closed the doors on any sedition between the Sunnis and the Shiites on the one hand, and obstructed American and "Israeli" schemes on the other, the Supreme Leader of The Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei instantly issued a fatwa in which he prohibited insulting revered Sunni figures as well as Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) wife, Sayyeda Aisha.

The Muslim public in addition to Lebanese and foreign media followed up with interest the disburdening fatwa that blocked the path to sectarian incitements, and saved the region from falling into a great division.

Sayyed Khamenei issued the fatwa after various scholars and intellects from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia asked his opinion on whether such an attitude is permitted or not.

His Eminence responded by saying, "Insulting the symbols of the Sunni brothers, including the Prophet Muhammad's wife [Aisha] is forbidden. This includes the women of all prophets and especially the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)."

The fatwa that came from the significant Shiite figure mainly suppressed irritations that spread among the Sunnis.

Among the comments welcoming and appreciating Ayatollah Khamenei's fatwa was a statement issued by the Azhar institute's Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmad Tayyib.

In his statement, Tayyib assured that this fatwa emerges from right knowledge and deep awareness of the incitements' dangers, pointing out that this fatwa reveals concern of the Muslims' unity.

Moreover, Tayyib stated, "This Fatwa is significant as it is issued by one of the great Muslim scholars, and a prominent Shiite authority, as he is the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran." 

The Azhar Imam sent a sincere greeting to Ayatollah Khamenei for his "honorable fatwa" that came in the right time to block any incitement, and hoped that this would open the path for serious joint work to unite the Muslims.

He proceeded, "It is a basic duty to unit Muslims. Variation between Islamic sects should be limited to scholars' differences in views and interpretations that do not affect the nation's unity."

On his part, member of the Muslim Scholars Gathering in Lebanon, Sheikh Maher Mezher considered that Imam Khamenei's fatwa is already an rule that all Muslims follow.

"This (fatwa) is a religious edict and rule that Sayyed Khamenei has always followed. However, he raised this issue now to reassure this stance and call for unity," Sheikh Mezher pointed out.

In an interview with Moqawama.org, Member of the Muslim Scholars Gathering assured that stirring up sectarian incitements is the practical way to achieve what former US Secretary of Foreign Affairs Condoleezza Rice referred to as the birth of a new Middle East.

Sheikh Mezher indicated, "The first step towards a new Middle East was by destroying the resistance in Lebanon and disarming all the resisting parts in the region. As this step failed, they try today to disarm every resistance by stirring up sectarian incitements, which would affect it."

Sheikh Mezher expressed his concern of the attempt to convince some Sunnis that the real enemy is the Shiites and not "Israel". However, he reassured, "Imam Khamenei's rule saved us from such incitements."

Furthermore, he called on his Sunni fellows to be aware that the US aims at targeting Islam in general, rather than a certain sect in it.

On the other hand, Sheikh Mezher commented on Dr. Tayyib's statement welcoming Imam Khamenei's fatwa.

"It was a positive response. We reassure our respect to the Azhar's Sheikh, but emphasize that he was supposed to issue a similar fatwa that prohibits blasphemy or defaming other Muslim sects, specifically the Shiites," he added.

Sheikh Mezher indicated that sectarian offences come out in this specific period to serve "Israel", which according to him, "Every time the enemy goes into direct talks, it fabricates a conflict to use as a pretext for the failure of talks."

In conclusion, Sheikh Mezher assured to Moqawama.org that the Muslim Scholars Gathering does not call the Muslim nation to unite, as Muslims are already one nation that cannot be divided. However, he added, "We call for returning to unity and mutual approach as we all follow the same Islamic rules."

As it appeared clearly on Wednesday October 13, Hizbullah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah praised and emphasized Imam Khamenei's fatwa, Iran's President came out before the Lebanese to reassure his rejection to all kinds of incitements.
Repressing seditions should be the concern of every single patriot and responsible person in this critical period for the region.

With the diverse sects in the Islamic nation, the enemy has various places to spread its poison in.
This is a chance for Muslims to suppress their anger and act wisely; as once again, this is another war waged against the Islamic nation; and once again, every person has a certain duty to fulfill in order to win this infinite war.