Senior Iranian Cleric Hails Al Azhar Sheikh's Call for Efforts against Disunity
Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb had recently called on Shia and Sunni scholars to issue Fatwas to put an end to conflicts among followers of the two schools of thought.
Answering a question by Kuwait-based al-Anba website on necessity of proximity between Shia and Sunni Muslims, Sheikh Tayeb had underlined that there is no difference among Shia and Sunni Muslims as all of them believe in the unity of God and Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH).
He had added that Al-Azhar pursues proximity among Sunnis and Shias as one of its major approaches.
He had also urged Muslim scholars, both Shia and Sunni, to issue Fatwas against killings and conflicts among the followers of the two schools of thought.
This, el-Tayeb had said, is to save the region from bloodshed and rescue the Muslim Ummah from plots against Islam.
The Al-Azhar Sheikh had also criticized those who seek disunity and discord between Shia and Sunni Muslims, regretting that they do not want the flames of Fitna (sedition) to be extinguished.
Grand Ayatollah Makarem praised the Egyptian cleric for his awareness of the realities in today’s world.
He stressed that killing of non-Muslims in any part of the world is also condemned in Islam and expressed hope that joint Fatwas by Shia and Sunni Muslims will be issued soon against extremism and sectarian violence.
