Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, director of seminaries across the country, said in the first webinar of the 35th International Islamic Unity Conference: “Muslims, as in the past, need constructive dialogue and purposeful interaction between the Muslim Ummah, Islamic states, and especially intellectuals and scholars;" Therefore, the dialogue of religious scholars and institutions in the Islamic world is very strategic and important. We should know that all religious scholars and religious institutions are responsible for the present and future of the Islamic Ummah and the Islamic society.”
He added: “Among all the issues that deal with the fate of Muslims and the Muslim Ummah, the issue of convergence, coexistence, thinking, harmony and ultimately unity is of particular importance, of course, we must be one of the main philosophies of dialogue and discourse and Many other measures that are taken in the field of interaction of denominations and Proximity, to deepen the components of unity and its foundations.”
Ayatollah Arafi continued in this regard: One of the issues related to this issue is the issue of identity. Sociologists and social science analysts believe that human beings have an identity, the identity of a human being, although apparently expressed in one sentence, but in fact, it is a combination of various elements and components that have a special personality and identity; In fact, it includes several elements, elements that sometimes depend on geographical, climatic and natural factors. On the other hand, the historical past and historical backgrounds of a society also affect the identity of the individual, so the historical background can be considered as the second factor in the formation of identity.
The director of seminaries across the country added: The third element includes economic and livelihood factors. The fourth element is cultural factors, some of these factors are influenced by cultural and environmental aspects and affect humans; Thus, human, climatic, racial, linguistic, trade union, occupational, gender and similar factors are elements that exist in human society that shape a person's personality and build his identity. It should be said that some of these factors are natural and involuntary, and some are semi-voluntary and some are optional elements.
Ayatollah Arafi stated: Most of these elements and factors are components that, while affecting the personality of each person, are also effective in building the personality of other people. In the Islamic world, too, an individual's identity originates from a set of these elements, and it must be said that among these elements, we have an Islamic identity.
He added: The identity of the Islamic Ummah, that is, that element of belief, thought and knowledge, etc., which comes from the book, tradition, history and Islamic civilization; This is a set of elements that are interpreted as Islamic identity and Islamic civilization.
The director of seminaries across the country stated that in addition to these identities, there are other identities: Among them are human identities that connect us with all of humanity and racial identities that are diverse in the Islamic Ummah. Linguistic identities and national and nationalist identities belong to this category, and finally, religious identities in which various denominations have been formed and exist within the macro framework of Islamic thought.
He asked questions about how we should organize these identities from the point of view of an Islamic thinker and what is the main element in these elements of Muslim identity: according to logic, the monotheistic identity, faith and belief that exists among the Ummah. Islam is common, it is considered the main element and component of Islamic identity; In this main identity, attention has been paid to human and global, religious, economic, social and ... elements.
Ayatollah Arafi pointed out: The point that should be considered at this stage is that this theory implies the Islamic Ummah or Islamic identity, that in our Islamic identity, intellectual, epistemological, moral and cultural components on It comes from the principle of Islam and the rest of the elements revolve around this axis.
The director of seminaries across the country acknowledged: If an element is incompatible with this Islamic, intellectual and epistemological identity of the Ummah, it should be removed or adjusted, it should be said that the intellectual and spiritual identity that man has chosen, has reasoning and logic.
He added: "In this religious, intellectual and epistemological identity, there are both common elements (such as the Islamic Ummah) and special elements related to Islamic beliefs that should not divide the unity of the Ummah. The principle of this theory is that Islamic identity in In fact, it is the chosen identity that goes back to the arguments and reasons, and the rest must be within its radius, eventually the middle nation will emerge, this is what makes those who live everywhere on this planet, by saying There is No God But Allah and Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah, considers himself committed to the intellectual, doctrinal and moral system of Islam, and considers all those who are in this tent as their brothers and friends, and feel brotherhood with them practically, so it must be said that this is a knowledge and It is a consciousness that becomes a feeling and a feeling that becomes a slogan.
Ayatollah Arafi continued in this regard: This is the issue that we must improve in our educational systems, our duty as Muslims is to strengthen the educational system of the Islamic Ummah, which is based on a deep and original theory; Of course, international cooperation, interfaith relations, ethnic, racial and linguistic affiliations must be interpreted in this context, and this is where the Ummah takes shape.
The director of seminaries across the country stated that Muslims should solve the paradox of identity with the focus on divine thought and religious beliefs, spiritual and moral teachings, said: The message of the Islamic Unity Conference to scientific and cultural institutions is that fundamental identity should be noted and strengthening the authenticity of Islamic identity is another message of this conference.
He continued: "One of the effects of Islamic identity is that Islamic countries will be placed next to each other and will cause the formation of a common Islamic science market, a common Islamic technology market and an interconnected Islamic economic market."
Ayatollah Arafi stated that Muslims can overcome problems with the help of the spirit of civilization and the great Islamic identity, and acknowledged: If this spirit, identity, faith and love is realized, the usurpation of Palestine will not continue for another day, because everyone in a line will defend this identity and expel the usurpers. Of course, if this identity is put on the right track, very good interactions with non-Muslims will be established; Interactions from the standpoint of dignity and repulsion of oppression and arrogance.
The director of seminaries across the country stated: "One of the important points that should be considered in Islamic identity and civilization is to pay attention to the people's choice in politics along with the laws of Islam and divine guardianship; We need to know that our political systems must be based on the choices of the people, otherwise there will be deviation and it will eventually lead to Islamic terrorism and extremism, which are no less catastrophic for the Islamic world than other catastrophes.
He continued: Strengthening the Islamic identity as a theory should be considered by the Islamic world; In fact, it is very important to face the extremisms that lead to the formation of terrorism and are the source of the Islamic Ummah.
The director of seminaries across the country, stating that the Islamic Ummah created a civilization in a time when that civilization led all humanity towards development and progress and leaped the caravan of humanity, said: Today, if an Islamic civilization is formed and the Islamic Ummah with Rational and correct elements is established, not only will it save the Ummah from these challenges, but it will move in the interests of all humanity.
Ayatollah Arafi continued: In Islamic thought and Islamic civilization, the achievement of all human progress is for all humanity; Therefore, it is very valuable to hold the International Islamic Unity Conference in this holy week and at a time when the Muslim Ummah is facing great progress on the one hand and is witnessing the great successes of the Islamic currents and the axis of resistance.
In the end, the director of seminaries across the country said: The system of the Islamic Republic of Iran has emerged as a new and beautiful model; A model that can be a big step in overcoming the challenges we face everywhere in the Islamic world. We hope that we can all redouble our efforts in the service of humanity and in the service of the youth and the Muslim Ummah, and open new ways for them.
