Hawzah News Agency- Addressing the fourth International Conference on Descendants of the Prophet (PBUH) in Tehran, Hojatoleslam Hamid Shahriari, Secretary General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, hailed Iran's unique model of Islamic cohesion as a blueprint for the global Ummah.
"Iran has presented a unique model to the world today that must be protected and efforts must be made to continue it," Shahriari said, expressing gratitude to the conference organizers for their role in fostering dialogue.
Over the past four decades, he noted, the Islamic Republic has practically demonstrated unbreakable Shia-Sunni solidarity, particularly during pivotal moments like the 12-Day War against the Zionist regime. "We saw various Islamic sects stand by the Islamic Republic system," he added, referencing a comprehensive two-volume compilation by the Forum—spanning over 1,000 pages—of Sunni scholars' resounding endorsements of Iran.
Late Hezbollah Secretary General Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Shahriari recalled, had praised Iran's proximity efforts for solidifying Shia positions alongside Sunni brethren, underscoring Tehran’s pivotal role in bridging divides.
Enemies' Divide-and-Rule Tactics Exposed
Hojatoleslam Shahriari issued a stark warning about relentless enemy plots to sow discord among Muslims, outlining four key strategies in their arsenal:
- Igniting interstate conflicts, such as the protracted Saudi aggression against Yemen.
- Weaponizing takfir, through mutual excommunications—be it Shias targeted by extremists or Sunnis vilified by rival factions.
- Fueling sectarian street clashes, exemplified by terrorist atrocities in Pakistan.
- Desecrating sacred sites online, manipulating digital spaces to inflame religious sentiments on both sides.
"Many of the cases of disagreement or incidents that are highlighted in the media are rare events," he emphasized, dismissing exaggerated viral videos of minor mishaps as distortions that belie Iran's harmonious reality.
In a rapidly shifting regional landscape, Shahriari called for a paradigm shift from "the discourse of war" to one of peace, and from "takfir and terror" to Islam and human rights. He spotlighted the Palestinian resistance and the martyrs of the 12-Day War as vivid embodiments of this transformative narrative.
Strengthening Truth, Embracing Unity
Urging the Ummah to fortify the "discourse of truth" amid media distortions and insults, Shahriari stressed the need for clear, unapologetic responses. Invoking a Prophetic tradition, he affirmed that loving the Ahlul Bayt (PBUT) remains the ultimate reward for enjoining good—serving as the unbreakable axis of Muslim unity.
"Shia and Sunni both have their own history and interpretation, and there is no problem in expressing these views respectfully and clearly," he said. Healthy, logical discussions on differences, he argued, disarm enemies who exploit rifts for geopolitical gain.
Looking ahead to the second phase of the Islamic Revolution, the Forum chief advocated regulated discourse on divergences to avert fabricated narratives that misrepresent either community.
"When the truth is revealed, the enemy’s project in the four areas of war, excommunication, terror, and insult will fail," Shahriari concluded, rallying Muslims to safeguard Iran's unity model as a bulwark against division.
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