Nabih Berri: The Greatest Danger Facing the Islamic World Is When Politics Turns into Fitna

President of the Parliament Nabih Berri delivered a message to the Islamic Unity Conference held in Tehran, stating, "The greatest danger facing the Islamic world today is not the multiplicity of its scholarly opinions, but rather when difference turns into rupture, religious sects become sectarianism, politics turns into fitna, and religion becomes a tool in conflict."

The message was read aloud by his representative at the conference, Sheikh Hassan Abdullah, Grand Mufti of Saida and Jabal Amel, who addressed attendees: "Unity is not unity of colors and names, nor is it unity based on erasing differences. Islam, throughout its history and civilization, has known diversity in legal reasoning, schools, and sects, and never made disagreement in opinion a reason for enmity. The unity we need is to differ without fighting, to be diverse without splitting apart, and to seek common ground that transforms our diversity into strength rather than a pretext for division."

He added: "We gather today in this blessed gathering, invited by the "Global Forum for Islamic Sectarian Reconciliation," on the occasion of the "International Conference on Islamic Unity," under a theme that is not a passing slogan, but one that touches upon one of the deepest needs of our nation and one of its most urgent imperatives: Islamic unity."

He said: "The greatest danger facing the Islamic world today is not the multiplicity of its scholarly opinions, but rather when difference turns into rupture, religious sects become sectarianism, politics turns into fitna, and religion becomes a tool in conflict. The responsibility of scholars and intellectuals is not to widen the walls of distance between members of the nation, but to open windows of dialogue, restore to religious discourse its power to unite, to culture its ability to build bridges, and to politics its ethics that prevent turning difference into civil war. Islam has taught us that a human being is more noble than being reduced to his sect, that a Muslim is broader than being defined by his affiliation, and that the nation is greater than the boundaries of factions and groups. Almighty Allah says: \'And hold fast to the rope of God all together, and do not separate.\' This verse is not merely a call to unity, but a call to make unity an enduring ethical and civilizational stance; because a nation that fractures during moments of weakness cannot create a future worthy of its history."

He emphasized: "We urgently need a new jurisprudence of unity—one that safeguards the sanctity of blood, preserves human dignity, recognizes difference as a right, makes dialogue obligatory, forbids takfir, and treats fitna as a shared enemy. We need unity that does not fear diversity, and faith that does not require hatred of the other to affirm itself."

He continued: "When we speak about Islamic unity in the thought of His Eminence Sayyid Ali Khamenei, we are not referring to a marginal idea in his intellectual project, nor a temporary position dictated by political shifts. Rather, we speak of an essential principle and a comprehensive vision for the nation, its future, and its place in the world. For this unity to be realized, Imam al-Shahid believes the nation must focus its efforts on confronting threats to its existence—on the front of combating extremist ideology within, and on the front of resisting the Zionist-imperialist project abroad. When we discuss the role of scholars in solidifying the foundations of unity at this blessed conference, we must honor with reverence and respect the illustrious legacy of the exceptional reformer and Islamic jurist, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Musa al-Sadr. Imam Sayyid Musa al-Sadr believed that Islamic sects are windows of richness, not trenches of conflict. He was a pioneer in building bridges and called out with his immortal historical words that summarized the essence of his movement, the Movement of the Dispossessed, Amal: \'We have gathered for humanity, for whom religions were created. Religions are one in origin, goal, and path. When they turn toward serving humanity, they meet and merge.'"

He added: "The most prominent practical manifestation and highest purpose of the efforts of leaders and reformers—from Imam al-Sadr to Imam Khamenei—is supporting the oppressed and confronting the Zionist killing machine. Jerusalem and Palestine are not merely geographical issues for a people who have suffered injustice alone; they are a test of the conscience and faith of the nation. Today, we witness this vision becoming a living reality in the legendary struggle being written by Gaza, and in Lebanon's historic resilience against the brutal Israeli aggression. The ambitions of this satanic alliance did not stop at Gaza and Beirut; the American-Israeli aggression extended its hand to the heart of the Islamic Republic in Iran, in a desperate attempt to break the chain of unity and its central pillar rooted in the resistance option."

He noted: "This direct targeting of Tehran, in which the late martyr Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei was martyred at the 'Command Center' following a brutal American-Israeli airstrike, confirms that Iran has never waged a proxy war, but has always been at the heart of the battle, paying the price for adhering to the compass of unity and defending the causes of the oppressed nations."

He continued: "It is time for us to move from conferences on unity to creating unity, from talking about convergence to establishing institutions of convergence, from declarations of solidarity to projects of cooperation, and from managing disputes to skillfully managing differences. It is not enough to meet to talk about unity—we must leave this gathering with concrete steps that make unity a daily practice in education, media, culture, religious and social institutions. Perhaps the most important thing we can do is raise a new generation that inherits neither hatred nor learns that their fellow believer differing from them is their enemy."

Let us teach our children that Islamic sects are multiple doors to a single civilizational space, that differences in legal reasoning do not undermine the brotherhood of faith, and that a nation united by the qibla, the scripture, the Prophet, and core values should not be divided by lesser matters."

He concluded: "Islamic unity is not an impossible dream, but it requires courage: courage to admit we were wrong when we made some of our disputes greater than our major causes, courage to overcome sensitivities, courage to listen to the other, and courage to prioritize the public good over narrow calculations. Islamic unity is not the responsibility of one world over another, or one sect over another, or one country over another—it is the responsibility of every person who believes that the strength of the nation lies in its unity, that its dignity lies in solidarity, and that its future lies in its ability to transform diversity into richness, difference into dialogue, and faith into action. Let us make our unity a promise to future generations, our differences a bridge, not a wall, and our Islam a mercy extending to all humanity."

And Berri concluded his message: "O Allah, have mercy on the martyr Sayyid Ali Khamenei, elevate his rank among the highest, and reward him with the best recompense for his struggle, patience, and steadfastness. O Allah, guide Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei, inspire him with wisdom and insight, and strengthen his path according to what You love and approve. O Allah, protect the Islamic Republic of Iran and its people, grant them security, honor, stability, and prosperity. O Allah, unite the hearts of Muslims in goodness, align their words in truth, safeguard their homelands, and make their differences expansive, their diversity a source of strength, and their unity a path to a renaissance worthy of their nation."