More American Muslim Leaders Sign on To Muslim Intrafaith Code of Honor at ISNA Convention
Posted Sep 5, 2007

More American Muslim Leaders Sign on To Muslim Intrafaith Code of Honor at ISNA Convention

Sheila Musaji

At the Islamic Society of North america (ISNA) Convention over the labor day weekend there were 40,000 American Muslims in attendance, and many important discussions and activities took place.  One of the most important of these took place in the main hall on Sunday night.  A number of scholars and leaders from both the Sunni and Shia communities signed on to the Muslim Intrafaith Code of honor in front of a crowd of at least 8,000 people.

This movement towards making a clear public declaration that division between Sunnis and Shias will not be accepted or tolerated by American Muslims has been building for some time.  Malik Mujahid called for a dialogue in April of 2005, and sponsored a gathering which issued a resolution in December of 2006.  In April of 2007 at a meeting in Los Angeles a number of scholars signed on to a Muslim Code of Honor, and in May many more signed on in Detroit.  This Code of Honor came out of a meeting called by MPAC in March, 2007.

The American Muslim has been active in encouraging dialogue and unity between Muslims for many years and has published many articles on the subject.  Seeing this event take place at the ISNA Convention was very encouraging. 

I would hope that individual Muslims would print out the Code of Honor and take it to their local Islamic Centers and masjids and ask them to sign on.  Every mosque and Islamic organization in the U.S. should be a signatory to this document which is supported by fatwas by respected scholars across the Muslim world.  Our international scholars have spoken out clearly in fatwas such as The Amman statement (signed by 170 scholars).  There have been Sunni-Shia meetings in many countries, and ordinary Muslims have begun to stand up and demand an end to sectarian divisions.

If there are still any Muslims in the U.S. who haven’t gotten the message then we need to educate them.


RESOURCES:

300 Scholars Attend Islamic Unity Conference

A Call for Shia Sunni Dialog: Why and How, Abdul Malik Mujahid

A Charter for Muslim Unity Isa Othman

A House Divided: America’s Sunni Shia Discord Lorraine Ali

A Plea for Sunni Shia Unity Sheila Musaji

Achieving Islamic Unity Mohammed al-Hilli

Ahmed Deedat on Sunni Shiah Unity

Al-Sadr calls for Sunni Shia unity

Al Azar Fatwa on the Shia

American Muslims call for Sunni Shia unity

American Muslims Transcend Sectarianism Hasan Zillur Rahim

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Austrian Muslims Rally for Sunni Shia Unity

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Ayatollah Khameni calls for Sunni Shia Unity

Ayatollah Sistani calls for an end to sectarian bloodshed

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British Muslims March for Sunni Shia Unity

CAIR Condemns Attack on Shia Procession in Pakistan

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Comparison chart of Sunni & Shia Islam

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Dialogue Between Sunnis and Shias, Muhammad Zakir Khan Azmi

Don’t Let Iraq’s Sunni-Shia Conflict Spread Through the Mideast

Efforts to Provoke Sunni Shia War in Iraq

Exploiting the Sunni Shia Rift

German Muslims Protest Mosque Bombings, Call for Sunni Shia Unity

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Historical Sunni Shia Relations

How Easy It Is to Put Hatred On a Map, Robert Fisk

Imam Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim Calls for Unity

Indonesia hosts International Sunni Shia scholars conference 

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Iran says Saudis can curb divisive religious statements

Iraq Divide and Rule, ‘Ethnic Cleansing Works’, Enver Masud

Iraqi Sunni and Shia Hold Joint Prayers for Unity

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Iraq’s Most Influential Shia Leader Calls for Unity, Halt to Violence

Iraq’s Real Holy War Vali Nasr

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Minnesota Sunni’s and Shia’s Find Ways to Get Along

Muslim Leaders in U.S. Sign ‘Code of Honor’ to Promote Intrafaith Harmony May 2007

MPAC Calls on Muslim Leaders to Emphasize Unity After Attacks in Detroit

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Muslim Intrafaith CODE OF HONOR

Muslim Leaders Encourage Unity After Michigan Vandalism

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Politics, Not Faith Behin Sunni Shia Rift in Iraq Parvez Ahmed

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Split Within Islam Must End, Abdullah al Rahim

Shia-Sunni Dialogue: Maulana Kalbe Sadiq’s Theology of Islamic Ecumenism, Yoginder Sikand

Shia cleric blames U.S. forces for massacre

Shia & Sunni Muslims in Detroit Seek Peace

Shia-Sunni students find common ground on campus

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Sunni or Shia, Fault Line Runs Between Haves and Have Nots

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Sunni Shia Labels Irrelevant in the U.S.

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To Save Iraqi Democracy Bush’s War Will Target Shias Too Muqtedar Khan

Top Sunni and Shia scholars urge unity

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U.S. Soldiers Building a Wall Separating Sunnis & Shias in Iraq

U.S. Muslims Strive For Sectarian Peace

USA & ALLIES STOKING SHIA-SUNNI DIVIDE 

Vandalism of Shia Businesses and Mosques in Detroit Raises Wider Fears

Vandalism in Detroit has Sunni and Shia leaders working for peace

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VIDEO Discussion of Sunni Shia Relations in the U.S.

VIDEO: Sunni and Shia Sectarianism in the U.S.

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Who Benefits? Dahr Jamail

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Yusuf al Qaradawi Makes Clear That Shia are Muslims