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Unity

3. The unity that is Muslims need today can be achieved through Shi′a adherence to the four Islamic sects according to the consensus of Muslims, especially when the religion's enemies have made up their minds to harm Muslims by all possible means. What is the way to achieve Islamic unity?

Answer:
Unity can be achieved by respecting Ahl Al-Bayt's1 sect

The unity of Muslims does not depend on Shi′as forsaking their faith, nor the Sunnis forsaking their own. Asking Shi′as to do so without asking others (Sunnis) to do likewise is to prefer without preponderance, or even to favor the less preferable.

Unity and uniformity can be achieved if Sunnis release Ahl Al-Bayt's sect and view it as they view any of their own sects so that the Shafi’is, Hanafis, Malikis and Hanbalis may consider the followers of Ahl Al-Bayt just as they consider each other. Only then can the unity of Muslims be achieved, and they will be unified in one fold.

The difference among Sunni sects is not less than it is between the Sunni and Shi′a schools of thought as thousands of books on the principles and branches of the creed of both groups testify; therefore, why have several people among Sunnis condemned the Shi′as for differing from the Sunnis? Why have they not, by the same token, condemned the Sunnis for differing from the Shi′as, or even for differing from one another? If sects can be four, why cannot they be five? How can four sects be considered as "unifying" Muslims, and when they increase to five, unity is shattered and Muslims are divided unto themselves?

  • 1. Ahl Al-Bayt: It can also be roughly translated as "household". The Ahl-Al-Bayt of a person refers to his family members. Ahl Al-Bayt of the Prophet are: Fatimah al-Zahra (the daughter of the Messenger of Allah), Imam ‘Ali, Imam al-Hasan, Imam al-Husayn.