Allah Almighty sent the noble Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the final Messenger for all of humanity until the Day of Judgment. Hazrat Amir bin Saad narrates from his father, Hazrat Saad bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him), that one day, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came from the highlands of ‘Alia (near Quba in Medina). Passing by the mosque of Banu Muawiyah (a branch of the Aws tribe of the Ansar), he entered the mosque and prayed two rak’ahs. We joined him in prayer. Then he offered a lengthy supplication to his Lord. After concluding, he turned to us and said, “I presented three requests to Allah; two of them were granted, while the third was not. The first was that my entire Ummah should not be destroyed by famine, and Allah accepted it. The second request was that my entire Ummah should not be drowned, and Allah granted this as well. The third request was that there should be no conflict among them, but this was not accepted” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Fitan: 7260). Similar hadiths in Sahih Bukhari and the Musnad of Ahmed point to this ongoing internal conflict. Imam Tabarani relates that Allah promised His beloved Prophet (ﷺ) that even if all the disbelievers of the world gathered against his Ummah to eradicate it, they would not succeed. However, they would continue to engage in conflicts amongst themselves. It is thus the duty of the reformers and scholars of the Ummah to work toward preventing these internal conflicts.

Pakistan and China played a crucial role in the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Pakistan’s Army Chief, Hafiz Syed Asim Munir, played a significant role in this effort. China, our neighboring country and close ally, also saw the need for harmony between these nations, as Pakistan is a strong ally of both, while China has recently established good relations with Saudi Arabia. China and Pakistan thus saw it in their interest for Saudi Arabia and Iran to resolve their issues. A favorable environment was created when General Syed Asim Munir, during his tenure in Saudi Arabia, renewed his Quranic memorization at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque and built relations with Saudi leaders. His deep desire for better relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran envisioned a future where these countries would connect via land routes, linking Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and China. China took the initiative, with President Xi Jinping engaging with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, leading to the start of a reconciliation process between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023. Sectarian conflicts subsided, with peace emerging not only in Pakistan but also in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

On May 13, 2024, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Iraq, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Shamri, visited Karbala, where he was received by the governor and other local leaders. He shared that Saudi Airlines has been serving Karbala since April 26, 2023, and flights between Dammam and Najaf began in January 2024. This was a goodwill gesture toward Shia Muslims globally, conveying the message of unity from Saudi Arabia.

Over thirteen months of Israeli military aggression against Gaza and southern Lebanon culminated on November 11, when a summit of 55 Muslim and Arab countries took place in Riyadh, under the leadership of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz. Saudi Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman warned Israel to cease its genocidal actions in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also delivered a powerful address at the conference, emphasizing unity.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, representing the Muslim Ummah, cautioned Israel against any aggression on Iranian soil, emphasizing respect for Iran’s sovereignty. At the time, Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff, General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, was on a visit to Iran, meeting with Iranian leaders to discuss military and defense cooperation. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense, Khalid bin Salman, also announced the strengthening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, citing joint naval exercises in the Arabian Sea that included both nations, as well as Russia and Oman, and other regional powers.

These promising signs of reconciliation and mutual trust are a tribute to the efforts of figures like General Syed Asim Munir and President Xi Jinping. As Muslims, let us contribute positively within our capacities to overcome religious, regional, and linguistic divisions. Long live Pakistan! Long live Pakistan-China friendship! Long live the friendship among all four countries!

Written By: Moulana Ameer Hamza