Al-Azhar Grand Imam: The Islamic nation is in dire need of unity to confront the challenges of the era and to defeat its enemies.

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb said: The differences between us and our Shiite brothers are differences of thought and opinion, not religion. The evidence for this is what was reported from the Prophet (PBUH) in his miraculous hadith, in which he foresaw the future, and warned us of the dangers of division that may result from such differences; he (PBUH) said: “There has come to you the disease of the nations before you, jealousy and hatred.” It means some of our countries or peoples envy each other. The Prophet added: “Hatred is the `shaver` (destroyer). I do not say that it shaves hair; rather, it shaves (destroys) religious commitment.” Then he continued: “By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something that will help you to achieve that? Spread peace amongst yourselves,” meaning establish peace among yourselves.

During the second episode of his Ramadan program, “Imam Al-Tayeb,” His Eminence explained that some disagreement occurred among the Prophet’s companions, including what happened over the Caliphate, about which it was said: “No sword has been drawn in Islam like the one drawn over this matter.” The Prophet's companions also disagreed during his life (PBUH), but they did not draw swords against each other. He explained that the disagreement between Sunnis and Shiites was not a disagreement over religious differences, and that everyone who undertakes the call to Islam must memorize and understand the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH), which says: “Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under the protection of Allah and His Prophet, so do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.”

The Grand Imam emphasized that the Islamic nation is currently in dire need of unity in strength and opinion to confront the challenges of the current age and defeat its enemies. He noted that there are global entities that have united without the existence of unifying factors such as the European Union countries. They simply see it as a practical necessity. He added that we deserve more of this unity, given our commonalities.

His Eminence concluded by saying that this was a natural difference at that time, and that the preference of one over the other was subject to practical life necessities imposed by the circumstances at the time. This difference should not be a reason for any of us to declare the other an infidel. Rather, it must be understood that there is mercy in this type of difference. The Prophet's Companions - may Allah be pleased with them - differed, and the Prophet (PBUH) approved of their differences, but no one declared the other an infidel. We - the Sunnis - also have many controversial issues; we have the Hanafi school of thought, the Shafi'i school of thought, and other schools of thought, with all the different matters between them.