Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at the scientific conference titled “The Positioning of the Proximity of Religions in the Current Conditions,” held at the Research Institute for Proximity Studies in Qom, Hojatoleslam Ahmad Moballeghi said the Islamic Ummah constitutes a single entity with a shared destiny.
“Cooperation, empathy, and a national outlook are the only way to confront common enemies,” Moballeghi stated, adding that division within the Ummah weakens its ability to defend its dignity, independence, and future.
Qur’anic roots of religious proximity
Hojatoleslam Moballeghi explained that the concept of proximity among Islamic schools is deeply rooted in the Qur’an and divine tradition. He said the unifying spirit of all divine religions is the fulfillment of God’s promise that the righteous will inherit the earth—a promise that has reached its complete and final form in Islam.
Referring to a verse from the Holy Qur’an— “And We have certainly written in the Psalms after the Reminder that the earth will be inherited by My righteous servants”—he noted that this divine pledge is common to all heavenly scriptures and underpins the necessity of unity among believers.
Lessons from the Children of Israel
Drawing on Qur’anic narratives, Moballeghi referred to the period following the destruction of Pharaoh, when the Children of Israel believed the conditions were fully prepared for the permanent establishment of divine rule.
“They assumed that with the enemy eliminated and society prepared, the divine government would be final and everlasting,” he said. “However, the Qur’an shows that the fulfillment of God’s promise is gradual and conditional, not immediate.”
He cited the verse, “My punishment afflicts whom I will, and My mercy encompasses all things,” explaining that divine mercy operates according to wisdom, patience, and the maturity of the community.
General mercy and enduring mercy
Hojatoleslam Moballeghi distinguished between general divine mercy, which encompasses all creation, and “written” or enduring mercy, which is granted to a people under specific conditions and continues as long as those conditions are upheld.
“History shows that some nations were granted blessings that did not endure because the necessary conditions were not preserved,” he said, adding that the Qur’an clearly states God grants authority to whom He wills and withdraws it when He wills.
According to Moballeghi, the final and lasting divine government is destined for the Ummah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), as promised in the Qur’an and earlier scriptures.
Crisis management and prophetic wisdom
Referring to the absence of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) during his journey to Mount Sinai, Moballeghi said the deviation of the Children of Israel toward calf worship illustrated the seriousness of trials faced by nations at critical moments.
He highlighted the role of Prophet Aaron (peace be upon him), who exercised patience and restraint to prevent the complete disintegration of the community.
“This approach demonstrates that preserving the Ummah during times of crisis requires wisdom, patience, and attention to long-term interests rather than impulsive reactions,” Moballeghi said.
A lesson for the Islamic Ummah today
The cleric stressed that the contemporary Islamic Ummah faces similar tests and therefore requires guidance, cooperation, and unity, particularly from scholars and religious institutions.
He warned that some foreign media outlets, including Western broadcasters, seek to inflame sectarian divisions by exaggerating differences between Shiites and Sunnis.
“These efforts aim to weaken the Ummah from within,” he said. “Unity and proximity among Islamic schools are the only effective response to such threats.”
Strategic role of proximity initiatives
The cleric further emphasized that institutions and groups working toward proximity among Islamic schools play a strategic role not only in strengthening Shiite-Sunni unity, but also in countering cultural, intellectual, and media-driven challenges.
Through research, dialogue, and scholarly exchange, he said, such initiatives help reinforce mutual understanding and resilience across the Islamic world.
Sharing personal experiences from Pakistan and Iraq, Moballeghi noted that many Sunni scholars, despite differing intellectual backgrounds, are committed to unity and cooperation.
“These experiences show that proximity is not a limited or symbolic effort,” he said. “It can serve as a comprehensive strategy for the entire Islamic Ummah.”
He concluded by stressing that proximity efforts must remain continuous, scientific, and purposeful to fulfill their historical and strategic mission of safeguarding unity across the Muslim world.
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