Speech of Mohammad Ali Abtahi

انما المؤمنون اخوة فاصلحوا بین اخویکم واتقوا الله لعلکم ترحمون 

آیه دهم، سوره حجرات

 

 ‏Brotherhood is a complex concept that holds multiple meanings and applications at various levels, including interpersonal, religious, global, and theological. This term, with its intricate and lengthy history, has been largely overlooked in today's world. Perhaps it is due to this neglect at both the nation-state level and the global level that Pope Francis, alongside Sheikh Al-Tayyeb, signed the Document on Human Fraternity on February 4, 2019, based on the Catholic Church's Document on Human Brotherhood. Subsequently, the United Nations adopted a World Day of Human Brotherhood.

 

‏A quick glance at the long and tumultuous history of this complex and fundamental term, regardless of its undeniable importance and role in various divine and non-divine religions, allows one to assert that even before the birth of Christ, sages and philosophers had discerned that the survival and continuity of human societies depend on something beyond rights, economics, and politics. If there is no specific kind of kinship among the members of a society that fosters empathy, compassion, forgiveness, and cooperation, human societies will not endure for long and will collapse under the weight of war and conflict, undermining the foundations of life and commitment to the common good.

 

‏Aristotle believed that the establishment and survival of a polis (city) or state depend on the establishment of justice and the formation of brotherhood among its members. Brotherhood, in this sense, refers to a kind of friendship among citizens, which itself is the product of an intertwined and complex system of social relations based on both consanguinity and affinity, religious groups, and various forms of entertainment, including music and sports. Institutions based on the concept of brotherhood serve as intermediaries between the private sphere (family) and the public sphere (city and state). In fact, Aristotle posits that the ultimate goal of establishing a city is to achieve the good and happiness, and social institutions such as family, religious communities, peer groups, and collective entertainment in the public space, all fundamentally rooted in brotherhood and empathy, are the means to reach this goal. Should any pillar of this system fall into crisis, it is the brotherhood and friendship fostered within social institutions that will block the path to rebellion, war, and revolution

 

‏In the modern era, it was the French Revolution that reintroduced the concept of fraternity into political discourse with the slogan of liberty, equality, and fraternity. According to Paul Thibaud, a French philosopher, "just as liberty and equality are rights that must be realized, fraternity is also a right and an obligation for each person towards others. Thus, the concept of fraternity is concerned with public order." From this particular perspective, fraternity is essential for the realization of equality and liberty, and if this fundamental component of human relations is removed, it opens the way to various forms of violence and the destruction of the material and spiritual foundations of human civilization.

 

‏In this context, there is not an opportunity to examine all the evident manifestations of the concept of brotherhood on a global scale. Therefore, I will briefly refer to the case of Iran, the author's home country, and emphasize brotherhood as articulated in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while limiting the discussion of theoretical and practical examples. In the Iranian Constitution, Article 3, Clauses 15 and 16 state:

 

 

 

‏15- The development and strengthening of Islamic brotherhood and public cooperation among all people;  

 

‏16- The formulation of the country's foreign policy based on Islamic criteria, a fraternal commitment to all Muslims, and unwavering support for all the oppressed of the world.

 

 

 

‏These two clauses underscore the undeniable significance of the bond of brotherhood that the great Prophet of Islam established among Muslims at the dawn of Islamic history.

 

‏What has been lost in contemporary democracies is precisely the element of brotherhood, which serves as a strong adhesive connecting equality and freedom, and its place is conspicuously absent in the fundamental rights of modern states and international law. This situation can perhaps be partially attributed to the secularization of the contemporary world and the diminishing role of religious institutions, where the concept of brotherhood and faith-based kinship is fundamentally the only constitutive principle shaping them. The faithful share no relationship with one another other than that of brotherhood and sisterhood, and this relationship has always been accompanied by practical obligations that unite them with a singular purpose across the globe. These obligations inherent in the concept of brotherhood include a spirit of cooperation, endless forgiveness, and compassion.

 

 

 

‏The roots of brotherhood in religions can be traced back to a broader perspective of the foundational story of the creation of Adam and Eve, to the fundamental view that, in essence, all humans are the children of Adam and Eve. In this regard, the bond of kinship of a brotherly and sisterly nature is applicable to all of humanity. Based on the foundational creation narrative, it can be said that human brotherhood encompasses faith-based kinship; in other words, any form of brotherhood and kinship that arises among limited individuals and groups is fundamentally based on shared human characteristics in creation.

 

 

 

‏This is a truth that human societies have been conventionally separated under political definitions, for instance, based on geographical borders and more specific divisions such as language, race, and religion. These inevitable divisions have led to the creation of rifts and conflicts that, throughout history, have manifested in various forms of wars and disputes, the flames of which continue to burn in our time as well.

 

‏Considering the deep and complex roots of the concept of brotherhood in both politics and religion, one can reflect on how, in today's world filled with war and conflict, the unifying element of brotherhood has been removed from political and religious relations. It raises the question of how we can strive to revive this concept at various national and international levels, as well as within religious and interfaith contexts. By referring to the historical document of human brotherhood, which has a specific lineage and cannot be fully detailed here, and by looking back at the rich and fruitful history of the concept of brotherhood through the tumultuous periods of history, it is time to contemplate practical ways to realize the concept of brotherhood, which, as we have seen, is the foundation for the survival and continuity of human societies on a global scale, while also addressing the issues that hinder the spirit of brotherhood among humanity.

 

 

 

‏It is time for religious leaders in today's complex communication world, where relationships are no longer limited or local, and where people across the globe are interconnected through intricate communication media, to seek solutions regarding the expansion of the concept of brotherhood and its practical implementation. The contemporary communication landscape, with all its challenges, conflicts, and cultural upheavals stemming from limitless interactions, has created an opportunity for the kind of human brotherhood that humanity has always contemplated in various forms—whether through philosophical, political, or religious theories, through sporting events (such as the Olympics or World Cups), or through the arts (like global film and visual arts festivals).