Historic Sunni-Shia Unity: Islamic World Rallies Behind Iran’s Response to Israel
The widespread support for Iran’s response to Israel, signal a new era of Islamic solidarity. This is not just a symbolic gesture, but a powerful message to the world.
United Kingdom, PUREWILAYAH.COM – A recent exclusive interview on the IranTalks YouTube channel has spotlighted a historic moment: leading religious authorities from both major Islamic sects—Imam Al-Azhar (Egypt) and Ayatollah Sistani (Iraq)—have publicly united to condemn Israeli aggression and support the Palestinian cause.
Political analyst Shabbir Hassanally, the interview’s guest, argues that this is not only a turning point for the Palestinian issue, but also a watershed moment for Islamic solidarity in backing Iran’s military response to Israel.
Unprecedented Unity: A New Chapter for the Muslim World
During the interview, hosted by Samar Hakeim, Shabbir Hassanally emphasized that the joint statements from Imam Al-Azhar and Ayatollah Sistani are more than symbolic—they mark a new era of Muslim solidarity.
“This is a turning point, I believe. But it didn’t start on July 13th—it began around October 7th, when the Muslim world, and even the non-Muslim world, saw what these child killers are capable of, what they’re doing, and how they’re enabled by Western regimes,” Shabbir explained.
He noted that the tragedy in Gaza has united Sunni and Shia voices, breaking down barriers that have long been exploited by external powers to divide the Muslim world.
Solidarity Beyond Rhetoric: Support for Iran’s Retaliation
Crucially, the interview also highlighted how Iran’s retaliatory strike against Israel became a rallying point for Islamic unity. Shabbir observed that, following Iran’s response, support poured in from across the Muslim world—including from Sunni-majority countries and religious leaders who had previously been hesitant to align with Iran.
“When they saw Iran sent a message to the Zionists and the Americans, they realized Iran is not just joking around... It was something serious and Iran was just saying, look, please don’t play games, right? We are not joking around. We are serious,” Shabbir said.
He stressed that this moment transcended sectarian lines:
“I don’t generally like to use terms like Shia and Sunni but everyone saw what is happening. It was very clear.”
Religious Endorsement and Grassroots Support
The statements from Imam Al-Azhar and Ayatollah Sistani, as well as other prominent religious authorities, were seen as crucial in emboldening the wider Muslim community to openly support Iran’s right to self-defense.
"These comments are very, very good. They are very necessary. Part of me feels maybe they should have been done earlier... But I think it took the breaking of that fear barrier when they realized that actually Iran can hit back.
Iran is not going to be a pushover... And I think one of the things that... it gave them the courage to come out and say that no, if you stand with the Zionists then you're complicit, you're complicit in this genocide, in this holocaust, and you will be treated like that..."
A Blow to Sectarian Narratives and Western Influence
The interview challenges the Western narrative that often frames Middle Eastern conflicts as sectarian. Instead, it demonstrates that the Palestinian cause—and now, Iran’s military response—has become a unifying issue for Muslims worldwide.
“The only people who were actually talking about Palestine and giving martyrs for Palestine—literally paying in blood—were those with the axis of resistance,” Shabbir asserted.
He also delivered a sharp critique of the West:
“America is like a spoiled child with lots of very dangerous toys. It’s being manipulated by people who have no morality.”
Geopolitical Implications: A New Era of Islamic Solidarity
Shabbir argued that this unity could fundamentally shift the balance of power in the region, weakening efforts by Western countries and Israel to divide the Muslim world along sectarian lines.
“If you stand with the Zionists, then you’re complicit in this genocide, in this holocaust, and you will be treated as such,” he warned.
The joint condemnation by Imam Al-Azhar and Ayatollah Sistani, and the widespread support for Iran’s response to Israel, signal a new era of Islamic solidarity. This is not just a symbolic gesture, but a powerful message to the world: the Palestinian issue and the defense of Muslim dignity are now shared causes, uniting the Islamic world across sectarian divides.
Editor’s note: Quotes are taken from the interview “Al-Azhar's Imam & Ayatollah Sistani Unite against Israel | Shabbir Hassanally” on the IranTalks YouTube channel.