Muslims: What can be done to make peace between Sunni and Shia in Iraq?

Thanks for bringing this up. I'm a muslim. I will not speak for any sect, I will just share my opinion. Muslims tend to blame their problems on outsiders, when the foundation of this problem is really within. As you would have noticed, some of the muslims felt obliged to bash the other sect in the above answers, when really that is not what you asked. This is the sort of negativity that produces such problems. And peace cannot be built on such teachings and beliefs.

First of all we need to recognize the cause of the problem, and take the blame instead of blaming others. I am not denying that the funds and training that you mentioned from outsiders is not influencing the problem, it is, but the tactic here is that such "outsiders" have identified our weak point and started the "fitnah", thus the killing has resulted. Many religious scholars, imams, etc. preach and justify such killing. That is wrong, that must be stopped. If they go around speaking about our unity instead of our differences, then maybe less hatred will be there. So if positivity is spread and those religious preachers stopped, then we have reached step one. Second step is to try to solve the problem amongst ourselves, without any other religion or governments interfering. Third is to raise money to help rebuild Iraq, give the refugees back their homes, instead of spending millions on weapons we can use that money in a good cause. The middle eastern countries are some of the richest in the world, they are very capable of such donations aswell. Fourth, the Iraqi government should have representatives of all religions, no sect dominating the other. Everyone in the world is entitled to believe in whatever religion they want, we need to stop claiming democracy and actually practice it.

I am not an expert of any sort, but common sense goes a long way.

I am not a muslim.

But in a pluralistic society like yours it would seem that you recognize the differences between yourselves. Then vote into law and enforce it the fact that Sunni's that break the law will be tried in front of a Sunni court house. And and the same thing for Shai. And if a Sunni does injury to a Shai that there be a court run by a foreigner who does business there. That will measure out justice.

Also remember that according to the Bible the first world power is where Iraq is there now. And that was long before Islam. It is too bad they cannot just recognize each other as brothers and try to get a long. And in Daniel's time the Iraqi's were one people that were not afraid to allow foreigners to be in government. They reognized wisdom when they saw it whether Iraqi or not. This is the way the society should be in a pluralistric society.

You are right divide and conquer is wrong. That is the way of a corrupt government that seeks to serve itself and not the people. A true government would empower the people to control the government so that justice will be meted out to all. And the best way to ensure any form of justice is that the groups be accountalbe to their peers that are in the same religious sect.

Because I truly do believe in the places of Iran and Iraq and within Sunni and Shai are a people that want peace and not war. That want hope and not despair. And those are the goals that are common to man.

Good luck.

Nobody has to stir up trouble among Arabs; they do that just fine all by themselves. The only reason this shia/sunni insanity wasn't going on before was because they were all under Saddam's iron fist. When they don't have anybody else to fight, they start in on each other. Witness the major blood bath that happened recently between rival militia at an all-shia religious festival. Read some real history of the region before you point fingers at us.

Are you a Muslim? Because if you're not that was very kind of you to bring this to our attention and be concerned of our well-being.

As a Muslim, I try to bridge the Sunni-Shiah gap in my community by attending both events and have gone to all of the masjids.

I'm Sunni and while I do find some of their (Shiah) beliefs absurd I do not think it justify this unwarranted hatred. I agree absolutely that to gain respect we need to show respect for each other. As for the middle east...there's not much I can do but pray it gets better.

Peace.

let first correct that you must say between Muslims and shia

and the answer is you can't because Rafhedism (Shi'ism)

is based on killing stealing , lying , ....etc which all banned in Islam and their big scholars like ayatola Khoemini said Muslims money and blood is Halal thats mean steal the Muslims money

and kill all Muslims (sunnis) or what they call them Wahabis and it's Halal .. and he Said also dogs are better than Muslims( sunni) that a good reason for shiats to kill the Muslim and they are taking their chances so good in iran when they take the power in khoemini time the first thing they did is killing the Muslims(sunni) there and till now Muslims in Iran they have no rights .. i met an Iraqi Muslim and he told me horrible things that what was shia's doing to them .. BUT ! not only shiites who kill in iraq their are the (terrorists) Al Qaeda followers they call them selves as sunnis ( but they are not coz they are killing the Muslims "sunnis" ) so Iraq

in a really big mess all i hope that they live in peace with each other every one practice his religion in peace i'm not agree with shiites religion but that don't give a right to kill him actually most of friends not Muslims they are from different religions Catholic , Atheist ,Christians .. i hope they leave in peace every one respect the other and everyone is free with his religion .. Muslims , Shiites , Christians and all other religions in Iraq must work together for their country ..

All Muslim sects need to realise that The Quran and the Sunna "teachings and actions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و السلام" are intended to be Mercy upon Mankind.

All Muslim sects need to realise that Allah will Ask us: What have this child done to loose her father? and what have you done to prevent that? http://www.fishandfamily.com/uploaded_images/Im_so...

All Muslims need to realise that declaring the infiedelity or Kufr of someone even if he's a Jew or Christian or whatever is an ultimate and exclusive right to Allah سبحانه و تعالى , not to any human.

All Muslims need to read the verse that:

"whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind" 5: 32

All Sunnis and Shiats need to realize the meeting of Muhammad Alghazali "Imam Al Sunnis" and Al Khumenie "Imam Al Shiats" were they set the golden rule:

"Cooperate on what we agree upon and forgive each other for what we disagree upon".

sunni and Shia are in peace, that's only happening in Iraq and God knows who's behind it.

You know what can be done?

The United States could back off - leave the Middle East to figure out their own problems.

A very long time ago, the British took control of what was then India (both Pakistan and India), used them, subjected them to feeling inferior and unworthy, put forth suspicion in the minds of muslims and hindus against each other, and hence forth resulted in the division of India into India and Pakistan. That was one interesting religious war that is still going on but on a much smaller scale!

Then, we had the breaking down of Russia - the troops that were used were actually trained by the US, since their birth, certain ideas were fed to young children, and were made to believe they were right.

A lot of people in the past have abused their power to get one thing - more power, more control, more anything they can get their hands on like hmm, oil. How bright of an idea is it to weaken the middle east by helping them fight against each other? It's all about weakening the others and stealing what they can from them. I think it's absolutely disgusting.

Thanks for bringing this to light! At least, somebody is noticing what has been going on for so long! Somebody needs to take charge and stop this before the Americans have to bear the burden of countless more deaths and the bloodshed that will ensue if we continue to add fuel to fires that would be much better left untouched by America.

For goodness sake, please leave the Middle East alone!

Thanks for your insight and take care. :)

EDIT: This is a response to Apope190's criticisms of my answers, as well as the thumbs down I recieved - I apologize that my answer didn't settle well with you. =)

Firstly, outsiders are the ones who have fuelled this feeling of separateness amongst people in the Middle East. And the purpose of these invasions as well as the bloodshed is simply to further that cause considering the Iraqi's didn't want Americans in their country, yet the Americans decided they had the right to go in anyway. Tell me, as you've formulated this great plan, how are you promoting this supposed peace? by invading a country that doesn't want you and then killing off countless people in it? Do you realize that you are creating the hateful atmosphere, using these people's paranoia to your advantage and fuelling their negativity?

My example only highlights the negative aspects? Do you really want to take a balance and compare the costs and benefits of that incident? It almost seems like comparing the costs and benefits of staying close to home or moving away...you seem to take it very lightly. That's probably because you're so far away from the situation, you cannot understand the damage that lasts to this day; try thinking about people who saw it up close, and continue you to see the damage up close. I suppose the rapes, killings, injustices, servitude that resulted b/c of such an invasion was perfectly justified b/c of some good things the British brought with them that weren't actually noticed until much after. And one thing that amuses me is that you believe medicine and education didn't exist in that country before the British stepped in. This is the inferiority complex you have instilled in the people of that nation - that they aren't comfortable with the colour of their skin or anything about them b/c you build yourself up by breaking them down. Where do you get that anyway? How do you come to assume that people in the Middle East were savages before the British came over to help them? Were they too stupid, according to you? I think I'm missing something here, b/c I believe they've contributed to fields such as medicine, education, etc, just as much as any other place.

I think you need to read my answer over and see a common pattern I was pointing out - all these power control tactics are used to break those countries down. This supposed strength you talk of about India, well that is exactly what you broke down. Do you realize that? You targeted a country that was prospering, and before it got to far, you pried it into pieces. Isn't that what happened to Russia (now the USSR)? I'm sure there are more historical examples.

I would like you to accept some things here:

What my answer's intention was, and what I meant you to understand is that you will never "better" a country by invading it by force, as you claim. You have to realize that when you punish a child through physical punishment, they only come back to bite you from behind in the end, even if they don't behave that way on the surface level. Hmm, can you see that happening, maybe in the future? Do you realize how many enemies you're making like this? Take a step back, and breathe in the view - it's smoky and contaminated. I'm sure you see positives in the people that die everyday because of these useless wars. I'm sorry, but I have enough empathy to not be able to look at many of the gory and bloody pictures of innocent children (killed in the Iraq war), who are probably only feeling one thing right now, and that is vengeance. Remember this for the future, b/c this is where the whole vicious cycle of revenge and violence begins

And we can stop it now: we can leave them alone. NOTHING good can come from war, or from promoting war. Nothing good ever came from handing rifles and twisted vendettas to young impressionable children in the past either, b/c that's how dangerous people like Al Qaeda came into being. Remember that.

Just because there have been barbaric and unjust military invasions in the past does not mean that we should continue the cycle. We are supposed to learn from the past, not repeat our mistakes over and over again. Maybe it's time you picked up a history book or maybe a mirror, and see what (not who) you are becoming. It's not pretty; you're only making people hate you.

And I don't see any way you could make a positive impact in Iraq, I guess once everyone is dead, you'll have all the peace you want? I don't know. While you have an idealistic approach, (and I urge you to keep you optimisim) take it from someone who's a conscientious objector to war and violence, someone who's seen the real evils of the world up close, don't support this, don't urge it on. You are not being realistic. In the real world, we can't just invade another country and expect them to hold hands with us around a campfire.

I think handing weapons to these people, is like handing a knife to an angry kid. I ask: What's in it for you? Another breaking down of a victim-child? Wouldn't the adult way to deal with this be to not look for your personal gain, wouldn't it be wiser to pull them up instead of taking away the little power they do have?

I'm giving you very sane and good advice: Don't give the world a reason to hate you. Please, don't support this. It's a personal vendetta, not a cause.

I will pray for you; not as a Christian, a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, an Athiest, or any other religion or faith. I pray for you as a person who believes in God, and respects ALL religions for their great ideology to bring morality and law into the world. So I really hope when I pray for you, everyone's God included, will be able to help you see that waging a war, or aiding someone else's war is not the answer to anyone's problems.

Take care, and may you help others find peace in a non-violent, non-intrusive, democratic and positive kind of way. =)

Can't we just let them finish themselves off?

First thing is to teach the shia what the word bidah means.