Muslim scholars from East Africa have urged the Islamic community to keep together in unity while emulating the characters of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The emphasis was made during the celebration of the Prophet’s birth during the Islamic Unity Week Conference at Al-Mustafa Islamic College in Kyengera.
The conference drew notable figures, including Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, the Secretary General of Ahlulbayt World Assembly; H.E. Mr. Majid Saffar, the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda; Mr. Abdollah Abbasi, the Iranian Cultural Counsellor; Hujatul-Islam Sheikh Hussein Awwali; H.E. Muhammad Hassan Wazir, the Pakistani High Commissioner; H.E. Tamouh Moustafa, the Syrian Honorary Consular; and Dr. Wardah M. Rajab Gyagenda, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Kampala University, among others.
The event commenced with a Quranic recitation by Sheikh Muniir Ali Kinyenya, a teacher and Muballigh at Imam Ali Islamic School.
Dr. Rouhollah Dehghani, the principal of Al-Mustafa Islamic College, extended a warm welcome to the attendees and emphasized the importance of focusing on shared values during such gatherings. He expressed appreciation for the Ugandan government’s efforts in resisting foreign cultural invasion, which goes against religious, cultural, and family values, particularly through media and cyberspace.
Mr. Abdollah Abbasi, the Cultural Counselor, welcomed participants to the Islamic Unity Week and explained that it is commemorated celebration of the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He described Unity Week as a message of peace, empathy, and friendship for followers of the the prophet and a manifestation of Muslim unity.
“This week spans from the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awl, the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth according to Sunni traditions, to the 17th of Rabi-ul-Awl, his birth according to Shia traditions. Abbasi highlighted that Unity Week, conceived by Imam Khomeini (RA), counters divisive forces and should be used to strengthen Islamic unity,” he said
H.E. Majid Saffar, the Iranian Ambassador to Uganda, commended the Cultural Consulate for organizing the conference, which attracted participants from East African countries to celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birth. He emphasized three important teachings from the Prophet: looking at the Holy Quran, the face of believers, and the face of Imam Ali.
Dr. Wardah Rajab Gyagenda, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for academics at Kampala University, focused on Muslim unity and the role of women in achieving it. She encouraged women to unconditionally love their husbands, cultivate positive relationships with neighbors and friends, regardless of their backgrounds, and embrace the unity promoted by the Prophet Muhammad.
H.E. Muhammad Hassan Wazir, the Pakistani High Commissioner, expressed gratitude for the invitation to celebrate unity in diversity. He stressed that the Prophet’s legacy is one of love and kindness towards all creations, emphasizing that a good Muslim should maintain positive relationships with society.
H.E. Dr. Tamouh Moustafa, the Syrian Honorary Consul, appreciated the Iranian Ambassador’s invitation and emphasized the Prophet’s brotherhood with diverse communities. He cautioned against allowing money and material possessions to divide believers who share the same Holy Quran, Kaaba, and Kibrah.
Sheikh Hussein Awwali, the director of Bibi Sukainah Hawzah, emphasized the paramount importance of Muslim unity in promoting peaceful coexistence within the Muslim community. He discussed the exemplary characteristics of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and called on Muslims to follow his teachings and those of Imam Ali (a.s) as outlined in the Holy Quran.
Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, the Secretary General of the Ahlulbayt World Assembly, encouraged participants to prioritize Islamic unity as envisioned by Imam Khomeini (R). He urged Muslims to reject radicalism and extremism, which are aimed at undermining Islam and marginalizing Muslims worldwide. Ramazani also stressed the need to guard against external influences that may affect the youth’s understanding of Islam through various platforms
