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CHARTER 3:103
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7 Jumada Al-Awwal 1424/ 7 July 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

Assalaam alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh,

We are writing to introduce to you CHARTER 3: 103, a document which outlines simply the Qur’anic verse which calls for unity amongst Muslims. As you must be well aware, there has been a violent and marked increase in disunity between Muslims, including sectarian strife between different ‘sects’ in recent times. In countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan there has been senseless carnage and destruction.

The Charter, established in 1997, has been organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, with the support of other organisations, as a means for concerned individuals and organisations to show their commitment to unity between the different schools of thought, and to condemn all forms of disunity, including sectarianism, racism and nationalism.

The matter is now so serious, this Charter is being circulated to Muslim groups, inviting them to support this initiative. Disunity is a scourge, which benefits no-one except the enemies of Islam. This should be clear to all those Muslims who genuinely wish the plight of the Ummah to improve. In inviting the support of different organisations, we note that those who do not respond, or wish not to be involved are in fact choosing to oppose the Islamic call for unity by default. All schools of Muslim thought believe in the Qur’an and the tradition of the Holy Prophet, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Both give clear injunctions for unity amongst the believers whatever their differences. They also call for the believers to have courage in the face of adversity to call for justice in the face of attacks by the hypocrites.

May Allah s.w.t. reward all your efforts. Amen.

Your brothers in Islam,

Muhammad Al-Asi
Elected Imam
Washington Islamic Centre

Massoud Shadjareh
Chair
Islamic Human Rights Commission

Faiz Siddiqi
President
International Muslim Organisation