Khalf Al-Harbi Okaz newspaper For a long time, we did not hear of anyone calling for reconciliation between Sunnis and Shiites; both sects acted as if they wanted to annihilate each other from the face of the earth. This reminds me of the comment made by Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah, Commander of the National Guard, in which he claimed certain parties wished to accentuate doctrinal differences between Sunnis and Shiites in order to satisfy ulterior motives. According to Prince Miteb, the real criterion for loyalty is love of one's country. However, both these sects fight as though they belong to a different planet. They forget that for generations, Sunnis and Shiites have lived harmoniously, proclaiming their united belief in one God. This general consensus has disappeared in the cloudy sectarian atmosphere, in which constant accusations and insinuations of infidelity are rife. It should be understood that the ultimate message of Islam is centered on the oneness of God and on maintaining peace. Do we believe that we are brothers in the face of Allah and compatriots in a country? Or do we believe that one sect deserves to be eradicated? Does anyone ponder over the sectarian fires in Iraq, Pakistan, Lebanon and some of the Gulf countries in order to derive a lesson from it? Or have these judicious people surrendered to the shouts of those advocating sectarianism, who think commitment to national unity is defeat? Over the years, we have been exposed to pictures depicting a Sunni mosque in Pakistan blown up by Shiite militants. In retaliation, Sunni militants set fire to a Shiite mosque. It is very easy for Sunni and Shiite sects to insult one another, but difficult to maintain our national unity in an environment distinguished by bloody conflicts. The majority of our neighbors wake up to the news of a bomb being set, and go to bed with the news of gun shots. Our forefathers bequeathed us a secure country from our borders in Jordan to our borders in Yemen. Yet this poses a crucial question to us: What kind of country are we going to leave to our children? This era is that of the feuds between the Sunni and Shiite, which no doubt many foreign powers will benefit from. This region is at a historic crossroads where all the big powers stop at to collect and distribute the booty from the carnage. There are only a few Arab countries that will come out safely from this factional fire. This depends on the wisdom of the people in those countries. Thus, I pray to Almighty Allah to save this blessed country and its good people (both the Sunni and Shiite) from those who claim to be patriotic as they drive a wedge in the middle of a boat traveling the seas.
