SHIA AND SUNNI COLD WAR IN GULF:

-BY DR RIFAI. UK-

It is not a secret that differences prevailed between Shia and Sunni sects of Islam. Since 1400 hundred years of Islamic history we have witnessed the manifestation of this difference between these two sects of Islam. Sometime, this religious and ideological difference paved the way for skirmishes and clashes. We have seen a lot of these clashes during the time of Abbasid period of Islamic history when some pro-Shia caliphs dominated Islamic caliphate system. Thus, this conflict has been in Islamic history since the formative period of Islam. Muslim community at large failed to resolve this issue. This conflict has re-emerged once again. It can be said 1979 Iranian revolution has indeed, revitalised this Iranian resurgence. Yet, Pro- Sunni Saudi government and its Salafi agents could not really grasp wider implications of Shia domination in Gulf countries and beyond.  Intellectually and academically Iranians are more advanced and sharp than Pro- Sunni Saudi government and its Salafi agents. In brain power Iranians are more superior to its Saudi counterparts. Moreover, it term of science and technology Iran is more superior to Pro-Sunni Saudi and its Salafi agents. 

          While Iran and its Shia agents have been planning to craftily to dominate Gulf nations with its Shia political and religious Ideologies, Saudi and its Salafi agents are interlocked in their internal fights between different Sunni Muslim groups. As it has been a tradition of some Sunni Salafi groups to find minor faults between different Muslim groups, they have been fighting each other for the last 30 years. We are witnessing this internal Sunni group fighting almost in all Muslim countries. This internal Muslim group fighting is mostly instigated by some Salafi groups. It is widespread in Muslim world. Each group blames other groups with disbelief and religious innovations.  While this internal wars between Sunni groups are increasing Iranian Shia missionary groups got maximum benefit out of this internal fighting between different Sunni factions. Let me give one good example to bring this closer to your mind.  Some Salafi groups openly supported Al-Sisi in Egypt to overthrow the democratically elected legitimate president Morsi. Yet, today, Saudi government fears the influence of Shai domination in Gulf.  It has realised the unity among all Sunni faction is paramount important than ever before. It has realised that MB plays a major role in Gulf countries and Saudi realised that it should work with MB to counter the Iranian influence in Gulf countries. Otherwise. Iran will engulf entire gulf nations with its Shia ideologies. 

        It is a cold war between Iran and Saudi. Saudi realized it cannot win this war unless all Muslims are united against Shia war against Sunni. That is why recently a marriage of convenience took place between King Salman and MB supported renowned Islamic scholar.  It is reported that Sheikh Al- Qradawi visited Riyadh recently. It is also reported that he participated in some Saudi embassy functions in Doha. While some Salafi groups have been making disputes among Sunni Muslim groups. King Salman realized this stupidity of some fanatic Salafi cost him dearly in war between Shia and Sunni. Shia knows well this division among Salafi. That is why it makes maximum use of it. At end of the day, the more divisions we have among Sunni groups the easier it would be for Shia to intrude among Sunnis. 

          Shia influence in gulf nations should not be belittled at all. Iran has greater influence in Gulf than ever before. With Iraq already under its direct domination, it has already sent thousands of forces into Syria. Once two major capitals of Islamic caliphate namely Baghdad and Damascus are now under Shia domination now. Moreover, Lebanon is mostly controlled Iranian associated Hezbollah. In Yemen Houthis have got greater military powers and geopolitical influence. Indeed. It was Iran who helped Houthis in Yemen. Moreover. All other gulf nations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, even Saudi have got some Shia influence. There are minorities Shia communities in these Gulf nations. It is said that more Shia people live in Iran and gulf nations than other Muslim countries. It can be said that 85% Shia are living in this part of Muslim world. It should be alarming to see Shia influence in this region. It has been Shia missionary groups’ plan to create a greater Shia Empire in this region from Iran to Yemen.  They want to extend Shia rule in this region. That is why they do whatever they could to help Syrian dictator and that is why they spend a lot of money to arm Houthis in Yemen. Unlike unorganised and fragmented Pro Saudi Salafi groups, Shia missionary groups are well organised. 

       Shia domination in Muslim world is rapidly increasing in all parts of Muslim world. It was reported that even in Egypt some Shia missionary groups are working secretly. We have seen ever increasing Shia influence in Sri Lanka too. Recently many Arabic colleges are opened in Sri Lanka by Shia groups. It is reported that many Sri Lankan Muslim students have been to Iran to learn Shia form of Islam. It should be alarming to our community in Sri Lanka too. It is reported that a so called al-Mustafa University has been opened in Sri Lanka by Iranians in Colombo. While all these take place in Muslim world, what we see today among Sunni Muslim is that they fight each other for minor issues among themselves? What a pathetic situation is this? When will all Salafi groups wake up against this Shia influence in the world? When will our Muslim brethren in Sri Lanka realise this danger from Shia influence?   Unless we are untied I’m afraid Shia intruding is unstoppable in Sri Lanka. It is high time now we wake up against Shia invasion into Sunni communities in Sri Lanka. Otherwise are we going to leave it in the hands of fatalism and destiny?