The Unity of Muslims — Page 41
41 Hence, it is time to put aside the differences between Shia, Sunni, Hanafi, Wahabi, and Ahmadis and non- Ahmadis, and embrace our shared values. This is the principle of unity. The Holy Prophet Muhammad s as extended invitations to Christians and Jews based on this very principle. The second principle of unity entails prioritising major concerns over minor ones. If unity cannot be attained in every aspect, focus on significant matters and overlook trivial issues. For example, in the Holy Quran, God Almighty discusses the Unity of God, but also emphasises obedience and fidelity towards parents. However, concerning those who refused to abandon the religion of their forefathers when prophets appeared among them, Allah the Exalted declared that the ancestors they followed were ignorant. While it is a great virtue to honour and respect one’s forefathers, one must abandon this virtue if it opposes God Almighty. Thus, the second principle of unity is to nurture the spirit of sacrificing minor aspects for more critical ones. For example, do not neglect the truth, even if it requires diverging from national or cultural traditions. In short, unity can be realised by adhering to these two principles. Currently, Pakistan, Lebanon,