IUMS values the initiative to unify some Syrian revolutionary factions, calls for complementarity
All praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, His messenger, and upon his family, companions and followers of his guidance.
The union received with pleasure the announcement of a unification among a group of factions working for the liberation of Syria from the tyrant Assad regime, and the restoration of the dignity of Syrian people. The union immensely values the step that comes at a time when unity and collaboration are direly needed in order to continue the battle of liberation in Syria.
The union thus calls for and asserts the following:
1-Congratulating the factions that have agreed on unifying their lines, calling them to work toward coordination with the remaining political and military powers like the Free Syrian Army, the National Coalition and other sincere powers that are active on the ground or on the international level in order to salvage Syria and the Syrian people. The union calls all sincere national revolutionary powers to unite and coordinate their efforts to liberate Syria and take the Syrian people out of the tyranny of the failing, fascist Assad regime that has used weapons of mass destruction to kill its own people.
Within view of the painful reality of our Muslim nation, the union asserts that unity is a religious duty as evidenced by a large number of Quranic verses and hadiths including for example the verses commending believers to { And hold firmly to the rope of God all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of God upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does God make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.} [Quran 3: 103 ] and in surah Al-Anfal reminding { and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart;} [Quran 8:46]. Prophet Muhammad’s will in his farewell speech had been to "After me (i.e. after my death), do not become disbelievers, by striking (cutting) the necks of one another.” (agreed). The meaning of ‘disbelievers’ here is ‘divided and conflicting’. The word ‘disbelievers’ was used similar to its use in the verse { O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers. } [Quran 3:100] and meaning divided. It can also be derived from the understanding of prophet Harun – peace be upon him – who disregarded what Bani Israel did out of fear of dividing them saying { Indeed, I feared that you would say, ‘You caused division among the Children of Israel, and you did not observe [or await] my word.’} [Quran 20:94]. So guard Allah when it comes to your unity and steer clear of division.
2-The union calls all Syrian revolutionary factions to protect and guarantee the rights of all Syrian citizens to a dignified life, political participation, and religious freedom regardless of their racial or sectarian affiliations.
3-The union calls regional and international powers keen on the stability of the region to support Syrian people’s right to freedom, independence and revival within frame of an independent, civil, sovereign state of Islamic reference where all citizens enjoy equal civil rights, and one that maintains balanced relations with its neighbors and partners of common regional and international interest.
{And say, "Do, for God will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”} [Quran 9:105].
Doha: 19 Muharram 1435 H
Dated: 23 November, 2013
Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
IUMS Secretary General IUMS President