Unifying Factors from the Perspective of the Qur’an and Prophetic Tradition

Seyed Hashem Moosavi

Introduction

The birth of the Noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family) is commemorated, according to different reports, on the twelfth of Rabiʿ al-Awwal by Sunni Muslims and on the seventeenth of Rabiʿ al-Awwal by the Shia community. This time span was designated by Muslim scholars as “Unity Week” – a reminder of the Muslims’ consensus on the greatness of the mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), as well as a sign of mutual respect regarding the differences in narrations concerning his exact date of birth.

This occasion is a precious opportunity to reflect on the lofty status of the Prophet of Mercy, to revisit the pristine teachings of Islam, and to recall the emphatic recommendations of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah regarding the importance of cohesion and solidarity within the Muslim Ummah.

The present article aims to review, through the lens of Islamic texts, the various dimensions of this vital theme: the necessity of preserving unity, avoiding division, and strengthening bonds of brotherhood among Muslims.

The Meaning of Islamic Unity

Islamic unity never implies merging different schools of thought, erasing intellectual or juristic differences, or discarding a part of one’s creed. Its essence lies in recognizing that despite variations in jurisprudential reasoning and sources of interpretation, Muslims share fundamental principles: belief in the One God, the Holy Qur’an, the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), a common Qiblah, and many core religious practices.

Unity therefore means peaceful coexistence, cooperation, and empathy based on these shared foundations, while avoiding all that fuels separation and hostility. Such broad-mindedness and wise conduct serve as a shield against the plots of enemies, removing rancour and division, and redirecting Muslims’ energy from minor disputes toward the great objectives of the Ummah: combating ignorance and poverty, and striving for societal advancement and prosperity.

The First Caller to Unity

Undoubtedly, the very first caller to unity in Islam is Allah Himself, who, alongside the principle of monotheism, has summoned the Muslim Ummah to solidarity and to the avoidance of discord and fragmentation. In the Qur’an, we read

«إِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُون

“Indeed, this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so worship Me.” (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:92)

A nearly identical verse appears in Sūrat al-Muʾminūn (23:52)

«وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ »

These verses establish that the criterion of a unified Ummah is faith in the Oneness of God, not adherence to a particular sect or inclination. Remarkably, this divine reminder places the unity of the Muslim community on par with the very principle of Tawḥīd, linking true worship of God to the preservation of solidarity.

Accordingly, unity is not a mere moral counsel or optional suggestion, but rather a religious duty equal to monotheism and worship itself. Just as Muslims are commanded to worship God on the basis of Tawḥīd, they are equally obliged to strive for the realization and protection of unity.

This obligation addresses all Muslims collectively, yet the responsibility is proportionate to each person’s or society’s capacity. Those with greater intellectual, political, or economic power bear a heavier responsibility in fulfilling this duty.

Unifying Factors in the Qur’an and Prophetic Tradition

The unity of the Muslim Ummah, both as a religious ideal and a strategic necessity, is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah. These teachings reveal that the factors of unity can be broadly classified into two complementary categories:

1. Positive Factors: Strengthening Cohesion and Cooperation

These elements actively build bridges of cooperation and reinforce the bonds among Muslims.

• Emphasis on Shared Core Beliefs: The Qur’an reminds Muslims of their common monotheistic foundations and commands them to hold fast to the divine rope:

«وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا؛

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided.” (Āl ʿImrān 3:103).

Shared principles such as Tawhid, prophethood, resurrection, the Qur’an, and the unified Qiblah constitute the strongest foundations of unity.

• Religious Brotherhood: The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), at the very outset of building the Muslim community, established bonds of brotherhood among believers. The Qur’an affirms this as an undeniable reality:

«إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ؛

“Indeed, the believers are but brothers.” (al-Ḥujurāt 49:10).

This principle transcends ethnicity and race, introducing Muslims as members of one family and strengthening mutual solidarity and support.

• Command to Cooperate in Goodness: The Qur’an instructs believers to assist one another in righteousness and piety, while forbidding cooperation in sin and transgression:

«وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَان؛ “

And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (al-Māʾidah 5:2).

This lays the groundwork for collective action in addressing shared challenges.

• Call to Reconciliation: In cases of conflict among believers, the Qur’an commands mediation and peace:

«فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ؛

“So make peace between your brothers.” (al-Ḥujurāt 49:10).

This emphasis underscores that unity often takes precedence even over personal grievances.

2. Negative Factors: Removing Causes of Division

These elements identify obstacles to unity and block the entry points of discord.

• Prohibition of Dispute and Division: The Qur’an sternly warns against internal strife:

«وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ؛

“And do not dispute, lest you lose courage and your power depart.” (al-Anfāl 8:46).

Discord leads to weakness and the erosion of strength.

• Ban on Mockery and Derision: The Qur’an unequivocally forbids contemptuous behaviour:

«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ… وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ؛

“O you who believe, let not one group ridicule another… nor defame one another, nor insult one another with nicknames.” (al-Ḥujurāt 49:11).

In the same spirit, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:

«لَا تَبَاغَضُوا وَلَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَدَابَرُوا، وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا؛

“Do not hate one another, do not envy one another, do not turn your backs on one another. Be, O servants of Allah, brothers.”

(Reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Muslim Volume.4, Page198). This hadith highlights the necessity of fraternal coexistence, avoidance of resentment and envy, and the strengthening of faith-based ties.

• Avoidance of Suspicion and Spying: The Qur’an prohibits two destructive practices:

«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ… وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا؛

“O you who believe, avoid much suspicion; indeed, some suspicion is sin. And do not spy [upon one another].” (al-Ḥujurāt 49:12).

Observing these principles fosters trust and social security within the Muslim community.

• Warning Against Takfīr (Excommunication): The Prophetic tradition strongly cautions against the grave danger of declaring other unbelievers. In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Volume.8 Page 24,  Abū Dharr al-Ghifārī narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) said:

«لا يَرْمِي رَجُلٌ رَجُلًا بالفُسُوق، ولا يَرْمِيه بالكُفْر، إلَّا ارْتَدَّتْ عليه إنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ صاحِبُه كَذلكَ؛

“No man accuses another of sin or of disbelief without it returning upon him if the accused is not as he claimed.”

This hadith sets a clear red line against expelling fellow Muslims from the fold of Islam.

Conclusion

Together, these factors form a comprehensive and balanced framework. On the one hand, positive principles strengthen the very fabric of the Muslim Ummah; on the other, negative prohibitions shield it from internal erosion. Unity, therefore, is not a mere emotional slogan but a practical system rooted in Qur’anic and Prophetic teachings. It requires both commitment to shared values – such as brotherhood, cooperation, and reconciliation- and vigilance in avoiding divisive elements such as dispute, slander, and suspicion. These two dimensions, like two wings, carry the Muslim Ummah toward cohesion, strength, and progress.