The only consideration for Islamic unity...

The only consideration for Islamic unity, in this case, is that the Muslims- in order to avoid the emergence or accentuation of vengeance – preserve their possession, avoid insulting and accusing each other and uttering fabrications, abandon ridiculing the logic of one another, and finally abstain from hurting one another and going beyond the borders of logic and reasoning.

In fact, they should, at least, observe the limits that Islam has set forth for inviting non-Muslims to embrace it: “Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation and have disputations with them in the best manner… “ (1) Some people are of the view that those schools of Fiqh, such as Shafi’i and Hanafi which have no differences in principle should establish brotherhood and stand in one line.

They believe that denominations which have differences in principles can in no way be brothers. This group view the religious principles as an interconnected set as termed by scholars of Usul, as an interrelated and interdependent set; any damage to one principle harms all principles.

As a result, those who believe in this principle are of the view that when, for instance, the principle of “Imamate” is damaged and victimized, unity and fraternity will bear no meaning and for this reason, the Shi’ah and the Sunnis cannot shake hands as two Muslim brothers and be in the same rank, no matter who their enemy is. The first group answers this group by saying: “There is no reason for us to consider the principles as an interrelated set and follow the principle of “all or none”.

Imam ‘Ali (‘a.s) chose a very logical and reasonable approach. He left no stone unturned to retrieve his right. He used everything within his power to restore the principle of “Imamate”, but he never adhered to the motto of “all or none”. Ali (‘a.s) did not rise up for his right, and that was not compulsory. On the contrary, it was a calculated and chosen approach. He did not fear death. Why didn’t he rise up? There could have been nothing above martyrdom.

Being killed for the cause of the Almighty was his ultimate desire. He was more intimate with martyrdom than a child is with his mother’s breast. But in his sound calculations, Imam ‘Ali (‘a) had reached the conclusion that under the existing conditions it was in the interest of Islam to foster collaboration and cooperation among the Muslims and give up revolt. He repeatedly stressed this point.