Hawzah News Agency- Adam Muhammad Bichi, Ali Tahir Ali and Thalith Yaqub shared their perspectives on the Middle East crisis, Saudi-Iranian relations, the Yemen war and how sectarian differences are exploited to frame political conflicts, emphasizing the need for a rational, evidence-based approach to regional developments.
Adam Muhammad Bichi: Propaganda and the exploitation of sectarian differences
In a Facebook post titled "The Middle East Opened Up," Bichi examined how differing religious understandings between Shia and Sunni Muslims can turn into hostility, particularly when exploited for political ends.
He divided people into two groups: those who lack knowledge of an issue but can understand it through explanation, and those who cling to their preconceived beliefs and refuse to accept any evidence to the contrary.
According to Bichi, conflicts among Christian denominations — particularly Orthodox and Roman Catholic — show that religious differences need not be a factor in perpetuating war. Social developments and reduced rigidity in understanding can contribute to peaceful coexistence.
Bichi also discussed Iran-Saudi relations before and after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, noting that exploiting sectarian differences to intensify hostility between the two countries has contributed to escalating the regional crisis. He pointed out that before the revolution, Iran and Saudi Arabia had good relations because the leaders of both countries were obedient to the West at that time, but after the revolution this relationship changed.
The writer added that Saudi Arabia holds a special place in the Islamic ummah because Mecca and Medina are located there. In his view, this status can be used to rally public support or to present a political crisis as an "attack on Islam."
On Yemen, Bichi criticized what he described as the use of holy sites for propaganda during crises, stating that the prolonged war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen has inflicted heavy losses and warning that the expansion of the regional crisis could bring further problems to the region.
Ali Tahir Ali: Protecting the believer's dignity and criticizing propaganda
In his contribution, Tahir Ali focused on the importance of human life in Islam and what he described as "the use of holy sites to build political propaganda."
He cited a narration demonstrating the dignity of the believer before God, saying that if people better understood this teaching, the focus would be more on saving lives and avoiding bloodshed.
Tahir Ali also criticized what he described as a discrepancy between expressions of concern over attacks on Saudi Arabia and the suffering endured by the people of Yemen over years of war. In his view, focus should not be placed solely on the destruction of property and companies while important questions remain about civilian lives and the devastation of the war in Yemen.
The writer also suggested that some crisis commentators may exploit the issue of Mecca and Medina to bolster political propaganda. He expressed concern that attacks on Saudi Arabia could be portrayed as attacks on all of Islam without distinguishing between the country, its government and the religion of Islam.
Thalith Yaqub: Distinguishing Saudi Arabia from its leaders
Muslim researcher Thalith Yaqub expressed his views on the crisis involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Ansarullah movement, raising questions about the benefits of continued conflict and its harms to the region's society.
Explaining the security challenges Saudi leaders may face following attacks on the country, the young writer referred to Saudi Arabia's relations with the United States, particularly in arms purchases and security cooperation, saying only God knows how much wealth Americans derive from this war trade with Saudi Arabia.
Referring to Saudi Arabia's portrayal of itself as a victim in the war on Yemen, he said it is irrational for a country to attack its neighbor over a political dispute and then expect the attacked country to sit back and show no reaction.
Yaqub also criticized directly linking Saudi Arabia to Islam, saying not every attack on the country should be considered an attack on Islam.
In his view, a distinction must be made between the people of Saudi Arabia, the holy sites located there and the political leaders who determine its policies. He said Muslims' love for Mecca and Medina should not prevent them from evaluating the actions of leaders or questioning the consequences of their policies.
In conclusion, the writer called on Muslims to avoid what he described as "ignorance and a tendency to follow only news that aligns with their own preferences," urging that political issues be examined based on evidence and that a distinction be made between religion and the actions of rulers.
Musa Shuaib
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