Scholar Highlights Efforts by Imam Reza (AS) to Promote Unity
Ali Raad told IQNA that this emphasis on Muslim unity is among the outstanding aspects of the Seerah of the eighth Imam (AS).
He said all Imams (AS) are the same light but each of them, based on the conditions, requirements and challenges of their time, have action, interactions, and moves to guide people.
During the Imamate of Imam Reza (AS), most challenges facing the Islamic society were in the fields of cultural issues, Imamate, politics and governance, he stated.
According to the scholar, Imam Reza (AS) closely monitored the predominant currents in the Islamic Ummah and made efforts to prevent discord and disunity in the Ummah.
That is why the Imam (AS) laid emphasis on proximity, unity and enhancement of the Ummah, he stated.
Raad added that another outstanding aspect of the Seerah of Imam Reza (AS) is dialogue with those who thought differently.
The Imam (AS) held debates with non-Muslim ideological currents as well as various ideological currents within the Muslim society, he noted.
He added that a third aspect of the Imam’s Seerah was his efforts to promote a moderate reading of the true Islam which is based on the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Asked why Imam Reza (AS) is known as the Alim Al-e Muhammad (scholar, savant of Prophet’s progeny), Raad said it is because the Imam (AS) was a source of knowledge in Islamic sciences and the vast knowledge of the Al-e Muhammad (AS) appeared in his ideological and theological debates.
