Martyr Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and the concept of unity

By: Mamosta Amir Amjadi- Friday Prayer Leader of Shuyesheh

In an era when the Islamic world needs dialogue, empathy, and avoidance of exhausting differences more than ever, Kurdistan of Iran can be considered the "geography of religious commonalities" and a school for the rapprochement of denominations – a land that, relying on shared beliefs such as monotheism, the Quran, the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the qibla, prayer, fasting, and moral values, has transformed the coexistence of Sunnis and Shias from the level of slogans into social behavior and the capital of unity.

A reference to the unity-building capacities of Kurdistan and the rapprochement legacy of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah. In an era when the Islamic world needs dialogue, empathy, and avoidance of exhausting differences more than ever, revisiting the experience of regions where religious and social bonds among followers of Islamic denominations have deep roots is an undeniable necessity. In this regard, Kurdistan can be considered one of the notable examples of coexistence and commonalities among Muslims – a land where love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Holy Quran, the single qibla, prayer, fasting, Hajj, moral values, and devotion to the Prophet's (PBUH) household have provided important capacities for strengthening rapprochement among Islamic denominations.

The rapprochement of denominations does not mean eliminating religious differences; rather, it means knowing one another, respecting each other's beliefs, and highlighting that part of the shared Islamic heritage that can pave the way for brotherhood and cooperation. This understanding of unity is, in fact, moving away from sloganistic views and moving toward "unity in diversity." In documents and statements related to the rapprochement discourse, the same principle has been emphasized: that Muslims can, while preserving their religious identity, rely on religious commonalities and the public interests of the Islamic Ummah.

Kurdistan and the social capital of rapprochement

From this perspective, Kurdistan possesses an important asset. Sunni and Shia scholars and religious figures in this region have repeatedly emphasized commonalities such as monotheism, the Quran, the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the qibla, and shared religious principles, and have considered coexistence among followers of denominations as one of the important social characteristics of the province.

This reality shows that rapprochement in Kurdistan is not merely a theoretical concept or a topic for conferences; rather, it can manifest in social relations, family ties, religious rituals, cultural cooperation, and even in people's lifestyles. Therefore, Kurdistan's experience can be considered as a social model for studying and strengthening the culture of religious dialogue.

In this regard, one of the most important points is that "commonalities" should not remain merely a list of shared beliefs. Commonalities become the capital of unity when they become social and moral behavior; that is, Muslims, alongside belief in one God and one Prophet, must also in practice respect one another's sanctity, honor each other's sacred things, and not turn religious difference into social enmity.

Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and the concept of unity beyond religious boundaries

In this framework, remembering the martyr Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah is of special importance. Regardless of political assessments about Hezbollah in Lebanon and regional developments, one of the dimensions worthy of examination in his intellectual and social legacy was the emphasis on the concept of the Islamic Ummah and the effort to create bonds among Muslims despite religious differences.

The importance of this approach is that it did not limit unity merely to convergence within one denomination, but pursued it at the level of the Islamic Ummah and in relation to the common issues of Muslims. In this regard, Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, one of the active figures in the field of rapprochement, has spoken about the role of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah in the formation and strengthening of the "World Union of Resistance Scholars" and has considered this body as a platform for communication and cooperation between Shia and Sunni scholars.

Also, in recent years, in programs and meetings related to Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah's thought, including programs held by the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, the unity-building and rapprochement dimensions of his legacy have been emphasized, including the presence and participation of Sunni figures and scholars from Sunni-populated regions in these programs.

This approach can be summarized in one principle: religious difference should not necessarily become social difference and enmity.

From Kurdistan to Lebanon; a shared message

The experience of Kurdistan and the experience of Lebanon, with all their historical and social differences, are worthy of reflection from one perspective: both show that Islamic societies can have greater resilience against social and regional crises when they strengthen bonds beyond religious boundaries.

In Kurdistan, these bonds have in many cases been formed from the heart of people's daily lives; in Lebanon, too, figures such as Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah tried to take the concept of resistance and defense of the common issues of Muslims beyond merely religious boundaries. From this perspective, one of the aspects worthy of study in Nasrallah's legacy is the emphasis on the Palestinian issue and the common issues of the Islamic world as an arena for the convergence of Muslims.

Of course, true rapprochement will be sustainable when it goes beyond the level of reaction to crises and becomes a culture – a culture in which knowing denominations, scholarly dialogue, avoiding insult to sanctities, social cooperation, and mutual respect become a general practice.

Today's mission; turning commonalities into the capital of unity

Today, more than needing to prove differences, we need to recognize shared capacities. The Holy Quran calls Muslims to hold fast to the rope of God and avoid division, and the historical experience of the Islamic Ummah has also shown that religious differences become dangerous when they leave the arena of scholarly dialogue and turn into hatred, takfir, and social conflict.

From this perspective, Kurdistan can be not only a geography but a "social experience of rapprochement" – an experience that must be studied, strengthened, and transmitted to future generations.

In this path, the legacy of figures who pursued Islamic unity beyond slogans also gains importance. Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, with all the different dimensions and contexts of his political and social activity, is one of the figures who, in the literature of contemporary rapprochement, has been given attention due to his connection with scholars of different denominations and his emphasis on the common issues of the Islamic Ummah.

If today we speak of "Islamic unity," the intention is not that differences be ignored; rather, differences must be managed and religious difference must not be allowed to turn into social enmity. Kurdistan, with its human and religious capital, can play a role in this path.

The future of rapprochement lies not in eliminating differences, but in turning differences into an opportunity for understanding, dialogue, and coexistence.

And perhaps the most important message of Kurdistan's experience and the rapprochement legacy of figures such as Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah is this: Muslims can think differently, but on the basis of faith in God, the Prophet, the Quran, the qibla, and the dignity of the Muslim human being, they can stand brotherly alongside one another.