Mufti Mukarram Qadri, a respected Sunni religious authority, made the remarks during a ceremony held in Karachi commemorating the late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
“Today, when we say we stand with Iran in this war, it is not merely support for a country,” Mufti Qadri told the gathering. “Rather, we stand with faith and with Islam.”
‘No fundamental differences’ between Shia and Sunni
The Pakistani scholar emphasized that there are no fundamental differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims, warning that those who sow discord are, in fact, advancing the plots of the enemies of the Ummah.
“Those who promote division are strengthening the enemy’s schemes,” he said. “The Islamic nation must unite on the basis of its commonalities.”
Iran’s missile cities and decades of preparation
Mufti Qadri also highlighted Iran’s strategic readiness, pointing to the Islamic Republic’s underground missile cities as evidence of long-term preparation.
“The late Leader, Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, nurtured a nation that had prepared itself for confrontation with the United States for many years,” he said. “The existence of underground missile cities in Iran shows that this readiness has been underway for years.”
He added that despite the martyrdom of the late Leader, the banner of resistance has now been taken up by his son, Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei, whom he described as “the Leader of the entire Islamic nation.”
Warning against sectarian propaganda on social media
The mufti warned against sectarian elements active on social media who are conducting negative religious propaganda against Iran.
“Today, some sectarian elements are active in cyberspace, carrying out negative religious propaganda against Iran and trying to stoke divisions,” he said. “These actions in practice serve the interests of the United States and Israel.”
He stressed that upon closer examination, there is no real difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims. “In fact, they stand side by side,” he affirmed.
Imam Bukhari’s narration from Shia sources
In a notable theological argument, Mufti Qadri pointed to the revered Sunni scholar Imam Bukhari, stating that even Imam Bukhari narrated hadiths from Shia narrators.
“This shows that from his perspective, Shias are also people of faith,” the mufti explained. “Therefore, when Imam Bukhari holds such a view, there remains no place for the rhetoric of divisive elements.”
Theological common ground: Maturidi and Ash’ari schools
The Pakistani scholar also delved into Sunni theology, noting that there are two great Imams in Sunni kalam (theology): Abu Mansur al-Maturidi and Abu al-Hasan al-Ash’ari.
“From a doctrinal perspective, Sunnis are either Maturidi or Ash’ari,” he said. “These two Imams considered belief in God, the Prophet, the Hereafter, the angels, and that good and evil come from God as pillars of faith. Shias also believe in all these principles completely.”
A Quranic call for unity
Concluding his address, Mufti Qadri invoked the Quranic command to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to call the People of the Book to a common word—monotheism and rejection of polytheism.
“Why then, despite our sectarian differences, do we not come together on our commonalities?” he asked.
“This fire of discord has been ignited by sectarian individuals for their own personal interests,” he asserted. “Today, it is necessary to stand with Iran—which is, in truth, standing with faith itself.”
