A resolution from a Dec. 25 conference in Chicago, "Sunni Shia Dialogue to Save Lives," online at The American Muslim [1]:
Resolution: Shia-Suni Dialogue to Save Lives
To be signed by immams, khateebs, masjids, Muslim organizations and opinion leaders
Whereas, the Quran mandates Muslim unity in the verse: “And hold fast, all together, by the Rope of God, and be not divided among yourselves; And remember with gratitude God’s favor on you when you were enemies, and He united your hearts so by His favor you became brothers; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it; thus does God make clear to you His signs that you may follow the right way.” (Quran 3:103)
Whereas, the Quran makes an unequivocal stand for justice in the verse: “Oh you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, God is a Better Protector to both (than you)” (Quran 4:135)
Whereas, although sectarian divisions and some conflicts have existed among Muslims, the magnitude of the Shia-Sunni conflict in Iraq has little precedent in the Muslim history with the indiscriminate targeting of innocent men, women and children, and the destruction of ancient, venerated mosques
Whereas, the seeds for divisiveness for the entire Muslim world, including Muslims in the United States, are being sown through the Shia-Sunni conflict in Iraq
Whereas, the Muslim community in the United States is composed of thoughtful, caring Shias and Sunnis concerned about the future of Shia-Sunni relations in this country and around the world
Whereas, the differences between Shias and Sunnis have not precluded Shias from making the annual Hajj to God's House in Makkah, Saudi Arabia or being accepted as Muslims by an overwhelming majority of past and present Sunni jurists
BE IT RESOLVED
That we call upon all Imams, Khateebs, Masjids, Muslim Organizations and Opinion Leaders in the United States to engage their local/national constituencies in critical intra-faith dialogue and education about Shia-Sunni relations and how to promote cooperation. Dialogue helps to isolate extremist fringes. Best practices should be shared
That Muslim scholars, from both the Shia and Sunni communities, including the various Fiqh councils and Imam organizations in North America, issue fatwas:
a) Reaffirming that the adherents of both Shia and Sunni Schools of Jurisprudence are Muslims
b) Condemning sectarian violence, killing, and destruction of property as un-Islamic and inhuman
That Muslims of Arab and South Asian origin residing in the United States organize intra-faith dialogue between Shias and Sunnis of their area of origin residing in this country, share best practices, and promote, finance, and transplant similar dialogues in their home countries with the help of relatives, friends, and leading Muslims
[...]
Please get as many Muslims as possible to sign the online petition [2] to encourage our community leaders to act.
The call for the conference [3] was issued by Abdul Malik Mujahid, chair of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC [4]). The Militant Islam Monitor [5] website paints Abdul Malik Mujahid as a "Wahabist." But we note that he issued a statement, "Islamophobia & Anti-Semitism: Bitter Fruits From the Same Tree of Hate [6]," after a Chicago synagogue was defaced with swastikas last February. CIOGC organized a delegation to help wash clean the synagogue wall.
See our last posts on the Iraq war [7], the sectarian cleansing [8] and the struggle within Islam [9].
