Hawzah News Agency (Qom, Iran) – Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi issued a statement on Monday, April 17 to ask all Muslims to stay united and avoid any sectarian measures which pleases their enemies.

The text of the statement is as follows:

In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the most merciful

Fortunately, the Takfiri groups such as ISIS [or Daesh] who have started mass bloodshed and destruction in the Islamic world are being uprooted. However, Islam's adversaries will not stop there for they will continue to breed sectarianism and division among Muslim communities; therefore, all Muslims must stay vigilant in order to avoid any words or actions that create such division in the Islamic world.

The international conference which here held in Iran proves our intention to increase proximity and unity among Muslim sects to neutralize the plots of our common enemies. We also condemn every measure that results in division and discord within Muslim community.

We expect our Sunni brothers to stop the divisive rhetoric of some extremists and remind them that such hostile words paves the way for our common enemies to interfere in our affairs and to initiate bloodshed within Muslim Ummah which is something that pleases our enemies.

Most certainly, the spirit of our holy prophet Muhammad (sawa) disapproves of such hateful measures.

May Allah bless all mankind with awareness and sense of responsibility to realize their divine destiny.

God bless you all