Ayatollah Mohsen Araki in the second session of the series of sessions of the 35th International Islamic Unity Conference, pointing out that without a doubt, unity in the Islamic world is one of the religious duties that takes precedence over all other duties, said: “Proximity between Islamic Denominations is the prelude to unity in the Islamic world.”
He added: “Although the proximity of denominations or the unity of the Islamic world does not mean that a follower of a denomination abandons his religious principles for no reason, but the principle is that there should be no conflict in Islamic society. Muslims should not fight with each other and should be like one hand.” He added: “This is not only a principle and one of the prerequisites and necessities of Islamic jurisprudence, but also it is the consistency of the Islamic Ummah. In fact, it is the concept of being “From the Messenger” and “With the Messenger” which has been mentioned in the holy Quran repeatedly.”
He continued: “God the Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an:
« رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ ۖ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ »؛
My Lord, they have misled many people, so whoever follows me, he is certainly from me, and whoever disobeys me, surely You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Referring to some narrations from the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), this member of the Assembly of Leadership Experts said: “In many narrations of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), it is stated about being “From Us”; “To be From Us or not to be From Us” is the same criterion of joining the Ummah of the Holy Prophet and joining the Holy Prophet and his Ummah.”
The Member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom stated: “Those who can follow the Holy Prophet are “From the Messenger” and the people who are “From the Messenger”, it is not possible for them to quarrel and divide.”
He added: “Being “From the Messenger” is unifying and unites hearts and unites orientations and unifies words and hands.”
Ayatollah Araki stated: “In some parts of the Holy Qur’an, God the Almighty has stated the issue of Being “From the Messenger” which is the same as the companionship with Abrar and says:
«رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ»؛
“Our Lord, we believe in the Book which you have sent down, and we follow your Messenger. Record our names in the Book of the Faithful.”
He said: “The head of the witnesses is the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Fellowship with the Messenger is the basis for the formation of the Islamic Ummah and the basis of being “From the Messenger”, the population that is “From the Messenger” is in fact “With the Messenger”.”
He acknowledged: “When everyone has risen from the same root, then there will be no rift. Separation from the Messenger will destroy being “From the Messenger”, and when this disappears, discord, strife, fighting and murder will begin.”
He added: “The whole society should be “With the Messenger” and “From the Messenger”; The oppressor and the tyrant is the one who separates himself from the Messenger of God, the greatest oppression to mankind and the Islamic system is to separate from the Messenger and leave the Messenger of Islam alone.”
In the end, he emphasized: “The goal of proximity is for all members of the Islamic society to be “On the Path of the Prophet” and “From the Prophet” and to move in this direction. Joining the Prophet is the same as associating with the Prophet, and the self-oppression is separation from the Prophet. We call on the Islamic society, the Muslims and those who claim to be the followers of the holy prophet to realize this following in order to be “From the Messenger”.”
