Budgam: In a significant appeal aimed at preserving communal harmony and Islamic brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir, prominent Shia leaders including Aga Syed Hasan Al Mosavi Al Safavi, Masroor Abbas Ansari, and Aga Hadi held a press conference at Darul Mustafa in Budgam on Sunday, urging all Muslims in the Valley, Shia, Sunni, and others, to unite under the banner of Tawheed and resist divisive elements that seek to sow discord among the Ummah.
Quoting the Quranic verse, “And hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided” (3:103), the leaders reaffirmed their unwavering dedication to fostering unity among Muslims in the region. “Our faith, rooted in the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt, mandates that we live as one Ummah, upholding justice, compassion, and brotherhood,” Aga Syed Hasan emphasized.
The leadership unequivocally condemned recent incidents involving controversial remarks or actions that have hurt the sentiments of Sunni brethren in Kashmir. “These actions are individual in nature and are not reflective of the ethos or endorsement of any recognized Shia institution,” Aga Syed Hasan clarified, urging the community not to fall prey to provocations aimed at disrupting harmony.
Drawing upon the wisdom of revered Islamic scholars, the leaders highlighted fatwas by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, both of whom have emphasized the impermissibility of disrespecting figures revered by Sunni Muslims. “The Prophet’s wives are respectable, and any form of insult towards them is strictly forbidden,” Grand Ayatollah Khamenei had stated in 2010. Grand Ayatollah Sistani has also stressed the importance of defending Sunni rights and rejecting sectarian bias.
Aga Masroor Abbas Ansari and Aga Hadi echoed the message of fraternity, emphasizing the responsibility of the faithful to honor the legacy of past Kashmiri Shia luminaries such as Ayatollah Aga Syed Mehdi Al Mosavi Al Safavi (RA), Ayatollah Aga Syed Yousuf Al Mosavi Al Safavi (RA), and Aga Syed Mustafa Mosavi Al Safavi. “They dedicated their lives to nurturing unity, and it is now upon us to carry their mission forward,” the leaders asserted.
Recalling the famous warning of Imam Khomeini (RA), the leaders reiterated: “Those who provoke Sunnis against Shias or Shias against Sunnis serve neither community. They serve only the enemies of Islam.”
They called for a broader and sustained intra-faith dialogue through platforms like the Anjuman Interfaith Dialogue Chapter, encouraging greater understanding and cooperation among various Islamic sects. “Let us build bridges, not barriers,” the leaders urged. “Let Kashmir become a model for Islamic unity, guided by the love for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his Ahlul Bayt (PBUH).”
Concluding the press conference with a collective supplication, the leadership prayed, “May Allah (SWT) guide us to the straight path, protect our unity, and shield the Ummah from the designs of those who seek to divide us. Ameen.”
The presser was widely attended and appreciated by religious scholars, civil society members, and media representatives, marking a timely and powerful call for solidarity in a region often subjected to external and internal attempts to provoke communal rifts. [KNT]
