Manama: More than 5,000 Sunni and Shiite worshippers prayed together at Al Fateh, Bahrain’s largest mosque.
The common congregation prayers, held for the second time on two consecutive Fridays, was a potent indication that the two communities were united against all attempts by extremists to divide them or to fuel sectarianism in the country.
Shaikh Adnan Al Qattan, the prayer leader, said that all citizens, Sunnis, Shiites and others, should stand united against the “strong waves of dangers, challenges and conspiracies” targeting Bahrain.
“What unites Bahrainis is much more significant than what divides them,” he said. “History bears witness of their fraternity and how they have, throughout the ages, lived together as one family within a spirit of compassion, love, solidarity and cooperation. We all say ‘No’ to sectarianism and ‘Yes’ to brotherhood, unity, love, serenity and co-existence,” he said.
Al Qattan warned of attempts to sow division and fuel sectarianism among the members of the one-family Bahraini society, stressing the importance of tolerance and exchange of advice as “the best means to maintain the security and stability of the nation.”
In a statement to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa praised the joint prayer proving the unity among Bahrainis.
“In Islam, mosques are meant to bring people together and provide a platform for them to unify their stances,” he said. “Whoever targets worshippers cannot be a real Muslim and cannot be a follower of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH),” he said, referring to the suicide attacks that targeted three mosques in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, killing more than 50 people.
Foreign Affairs Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa welcomed the massive participation in the joint prayers, paying tribute to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Foundation for Reconciliation & Civil Discourse (BFRCD) Suhail Ghazi Al Gosaibi for calling for the event.
“The joint prayers will be repeated,” he said. “Bahrainis are strong and united, and therefore Bahrain is immune against division.”
Al Gosaibi stressed “the positive response to the joint prayer initiative and the massive participation by state officials and people”, noting that it was “the best means to cement national unity and cohesion.”