Most of the sociologists say: man is a social existence and in the structure of his existence and creation he has strong inclinations toward a collective life. Now let us see under the shade of which elements such collectiveness becomes a reality.
Today a group of sociologists are of the opinion that the factors called race, common history, common land or soil and blood are the elements that make up nationhood or a unity of communities. It is the gathering that is made up of the above-mentioned elements which in the science of rights, is called a nation.
But Islam has not recognised anyone of the above-mentioned factors the basis of human unity. Rather it has decided that unity of thought and belief is the foundation of nationhood. Islam has said that the individuals who have unity of thought and opinion in the matter of belief and thinking are brothers of one another. The Holy Quran says: The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of your duty to Allah that mercy may be had on you.
After the relation of father and son, the nearest relation and affiliation between two human beings living at a time is the relation of brotherhood. Islam has made this unbreakable tie a must for the Islamic society and, for the first time in human history, brought into existence such a great human society wherein a milliard human beings are brothers of one another in Faith.
Traditions
1- Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: A believing Mo-min is the brother of another Mo-min, they are like limbs of the same body, when one part is pained another part also feels that pain and the spirit of both of them is from the Spirit of God and, in fact, the connection between the spirit of a believer and God is stronger than the connection of a ray with the sun.
2- The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: Faithful people are, from the viewpoint of love and affection, like a single body. When one organ of the body gets a pain all other organs of the body express their pain through signs like fear, sleeplessness and grief, and rush to the help of the part in trouble.
3- Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) gave a sermon in Mina wherein he asserted: The value of the blood of Muslims is equal for all. The shelter given to anyone even by the smallest of them has to be respected by all of them and in front of aliens they are united and the possessors of one power.
4- And it is also recorded from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.): The Faithful persons, in relation with one-another, are like one building the parts of which strengthen and protect one-another.
5- It is also on record: The Faithful are like one soul.
One of the precious signs of the Islamic brotherhood is unity and coherence. In this connection Islam has insisted very much through a number Quranic verses;
And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favour of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favour you became brethren
About the circumstances leading to the revelation of this Ayat, the commentators write: One day two persons belonging to the tribes of Aus and Khazraj respectively named Thalaba bin Ganam and As ad bin Azraarah clashed with one another and both of them began to announce the great deeds which their tribes had done after embracing Islam. Thalaba said: Khuzaimah bin Thabit, the Zus shaadatain having two witnesses in his favour and Hanzalah (the one who was bathed by angels) who are an honour for Islam were from us. Likewise Aasim bin Thabit and Sa ad bin Muaaz also belonged to our tribe. In reply Asad bin Zurarah who belonged to the Khazraj tribe said: Four persons from our Qabeelah have served Islam in a great way through the teaching of Quran: Ubayy bin Ka'b, Muaaz bin Jabal, Zaid bin Thabit and Abu Zaid. Moreover, Saad bin Ubadah, the chief arbitrator of Madinah is from us. Matters worsened by and by, both the tribes got alerted and taking arms in hands stood against one another. It was feared that the fire of war would once again spread and their land painted with blood. The news reached the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) who at once came to the venue and ended this dangerous trouble in his extraordinary way of advice. He made peace and clear heartedness between them. The above verses were revealed at that time and, in the form of a common commandment, gave effective invitation to unity to all the Muslims.
A. And know that this is My path, the right one therefore follow it, and follow not other ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has enjoined you with that you may guard against evil.
B. And united their hearts; had you spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah united them; surely He is Mighty, Wise.
Explanation
The above verse refers to the confrontation between Aus and Khazraj tribes who had fought for ten years continuously.
Traditions
1. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has said: The group that gathered round an evil individual and the person who desires to create disunity should be killed.
2. Amirul Mo-mineen (a.s.) said in a sermon: And always be with the biggest group the majority supporting the truth as the Hand of God is on the big group. Refrain from disunity because a single man is a partner of the devil just as a lonely sheep is the morsel of the wolf. Beware: anyone who calls you to this slogan meaning the slogan of separatist Kharijis. Kill him even if he wear my turban.
3. Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: The one who gets separated from the group of Muslims even an inch has cut off the relation of Islam from his self.
4. It is similarly recorded: One who gets away from the group of Muslims and breaks off his covenant with the Imam leader will meet his Lord on the Day of Judgement in a condition wherein he will have no justification to produce.
Now that you have seen some of the verses and traditions about the benefit of unity and the harms of disunity we should know that this our great Islamic Revolution which we achieved with the help of the Lord of the worlds was one of the most important results of the unity formed under the great leadership of Imam Khomeini, the Naib of the Imam Mahdi (a.s.). Now that the great revolution has succeeded by the Grace of God its sustenance and continuance is also dependent on unity.
Question: What is the meaning of unity?
Answer: Unity does not mean that everyone gives up his belief or the Madrassa performs the job of a university or the university attends only to the job of the Hauza-e-Ilmiyah. Rather the meaning of unity is that despite difference of belief, there is no tug of war or quarrel. The Holy Quran says: And obey Allah and His Apostle and do not quarrel for then you will be weak in hearts and your power will depart, and be patient; surely Allah is with the patient.
In the matter of unity between Sunnis and Shias the late Ayatollah Burujardi and the late Sheikh Shaltoot, the chancellor of Al-Azhar university of Egypt had played a big role just as the martyr Ayatollah Mutahhari and the martyr Dr. Shariati has played a big role in the unity of Madrassa and university.
It is essential for Muslims to guard against the evil designs of big powers especially of the big Shaitan and his servants so that they may be able to defeat their conspiracies and render the slogan of the dishonest Englishmen Divide and rule fruitless.
Another example of the result of Islamic unity
One of the biggest manifestations of the radiance of this brotherhood is that a brother never encroaches upon the life and property and honour of his brother.
This point is reflected in one of the most precious assertions made by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) in the big audience in Mina. Addressing his companions he said: Today is the day which is very precious in the sight of Allah and this land the land of Mina is also likewise very valuable and so also this month Zilhajj through which we are passing now. Yes, O people! The life and property and honour of you is respectable for you one another just as this day and land and month are respectable.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) repeated this phrase for three times then, facing the sky he said: O Allah! Be witness that I have completed the conveyance of message fully for the fortification of brotherhood.
Eventually we must remember that whenever the Muslims feel that in the Islamic society or between two Muslim individuals there is any dispute they must rise up for its solution on the basis of justice. Otherwise a peace that is made by encroaching the rights of either of the parties is not only temporary but it also results in a feeling of dislike for Islam.