Hawzah News Agency- Mawlawi Sheikh Mahmoud Khosh-Khabar participated via video conference in a scholarly session titled "Sahifa Sajjadiyya: A Spiritual Charter for the Unity and Reconciliation of the Islamic Ummah," held Sunday at the building of the International Foundation for the Rapprochement of Islamic Schools of Thought.
Speaking as a Sunni scholar who has translated Sahifa Sajjadiyya, Khosh-Khabar said he sought to address, from the perspective of shared Islamic principles, how the text can contribute to the unity and rapprochement of the Islamic Ummah.
Describing Sahifa Sajjadiyya as a treasury of monotheistic, ethical, and social teachings, he added that what matters for a Sunni scholar and translator of the book is not entering theological or contentious debates, but rather recognizing its immense potential for fostering rapprochement and unity.
The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Kangan stated that Sahifa Sajjadiyya employs a language rooted in human nature, monotheism, and morality — one that crosses sectarian boundaries and can bring the heart of every Muslim closer to God. For this reason, he said, the text deserves attention as a domain of shared Islamic heritage.
Citing the Quranic and prophetic foundations of unity, Khosh-Khabar noted that the Holy Quran calls on Muslims to hold fast to the rope of God and avoid division, while prophetic traditions emphasize solidarity, affection, and companionship among Muslims. Sahifa Sajjadiyya, he said, reproduces these same principles in the form of supplication and prayer.
He identified its focus on shared monotheistic principles as one of the book's most important features, noting that rather than addressing contentious issues, it emphasizes principles agreed upon by the entire Islamic Ummah — including monotheism, prophethood, resurrection, ethics, and justice.
Khosh-Khabar further noted that Sahifa Sajjadiyya contains no disparagement or denigration of other schools of thought, and that Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) never engaged in criticizing or tearing down any sect in his supplications. This characteristic, he said, makes the text particularly suitable for rapprochement-oriented dialogue.
Referring to the twentieth supplication of Sahifa Sajjadiyya, known as the Supplication of Noble Morals, Khosh-Khabar said it offers a set of practical strategies for rapprochement and solidarity, including the spread of justice, the suppression of anger, the extinguishing of the fire of hatred, the reuniting of the scattered, and the reconciliation of disputing parties.
He added that Imam Sajjad (AS) demonstrates in this supplication that no unity can endure without justice, and that a society striving for solidarity requires controlling anger, practicing forgiveness, abandoning hatred, and establishing peace and reconciliation among people.
Citing the Imam's conduct in dealing with others, the Sunni cleric said his life offers clear examples of suppressing anger, forgiveness, and benevolence — showing that Islamic ethics can serve as a factor in bringing hearts together and reforming social relations.
Khosh-Khabar also described the twenty-seventh supplication, known as the Supplication of the Frontier Guards, as another clear example of a rapprochement-oriented outlook. In it, he said, Imam Sajjad prays for the frontiers of Muslims and their guards and asks God to establish affection and solidarity among them — a perspective that treats the Islamic Ummah as a single entity.
He stressed that in this supplication, the interests of the Islamic Ummah take precedence over personal and factional interests, and that the Imam, by praying for all Muslims without restricting his prayer to any particular sect or group, demonstrates his inclusive vision of the Islamic Ummah.
Turning to the supplication for protection against the evil of enemies, Khosh-Khabar said Imam Sajjad (AS) addresses the issue of a common enemy and asks God to keep the enemies of Muslims occupied with themselves. This supplication, he said, shows that recognizing a shared enemy and uniting Muslims against external threats is among the key principles of Islamic solidarity.
He also pointed to the fourteenth supplication, noting that Imam Sajjad prays for the reform of all Muslims, using inclusive language that encompasses the entire Islamic Ummah without sectarian limitation.
Khosh-Khabar likewise cited the Imam's supplication of blessings upon the prophets and their companions, as well as upon the Prophet of Islam and his companions, as further manifestations of solidarity in Sahifa Sajjadiyya. Together, he said, these supplications show that the text can serve as a foundation for revisiting the shared principles of the Islamic Ummah and strengthening a spirit of empathy, affection, and unity among Muslims.
In conclusion, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Kangan emphasized that Sahifa Sajjadiyya can be studied through the lens of shared Islamic principles and as a common spiritual heritage, and that its potential can be harnessed to strengthen rapprochement, solidarity, and unity across the Islamic Ummah.
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