Unity, Compulsion or Obligation, and Its Practical Solutions

The diversity of ideas among individuals is considered as an admirable act if it causes scientific and practical developments but it is inadmissible when it creates hostility and malice. During the Islamic history, because of various historical events we have witnessed the latter. Removing the differences that causes enmity and following unifying principles like the principle of monotheism, the principle of following the holy prophet of Islam and the principle of observing moral and ethical codes are primary obligations and orders of Islam. One of the novel aspects of the present study is presenting practical solutions in order to achieve this aim, including avoidance of controversial Mustahab (recommended) actions, official prohibition of insulting Shi‘a and Sunni and the companions of the holy prophet by religious authorities, and etc. It has also been proved in this research that the occurrence of disagreement between Shi‘a and Sunni is related to historical factors and as much as we go back in the history towards the time of early Islam and the Prophet’s lifetime (pbuh) the degree and amount of differences and disagreements will be less, and as much as we become further from the period of early Islam, the degree and amount of differences and disagreements will be more.