Sectarian fighting may end soon in Iraq due to an event that happened on October 20, 2006 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. An event that was unprecedented since the passing of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). While overlooking the Holy Kabbah, leading Sunni and Shia representatives signed a joint document, Makkah Declaration, calling for a complete end to the sectarian killings in Iraq that have recently assumed horrific proportions.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),  representing 28 leaders from both sects, signed a religious ruling or fatwa, based on eight points:

1. The Muslim is he who professes his faith by proclaiming 'Lailaha Illallah Muhammad Rasulullah' (There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet).

2. By this statement, the Muslim embraces and accepts the five pillars of Islam and the central tenets of its faith, thus rendering his blood and property inviolable.

3. These fundamental principles apply equally to the Sunni and the Shiite without exception. The differences between the two schools of thought are merely differences of opinion and interpretation and not essential differences of faith.

4. No follower of either school may expel or declare another an unbeliever or in any other way cast aspersions on the faith of a follower of a different school.

5. The grounds for the ruling are based on a statement by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): If ever one of you calls his brother: You infidel, one of them shall come out the infidel and bear the onus thereof.

6. All houses of worship are sacrosanct, including mosques and non-Muslim houses of worship of all faiths and religions. These places of worship may not be attacked, appropriated, or in any other way used as a haven to perpetrate acts in contravention of Shariah.

7. Certain things and principles should never be forfeited, including, in particular, unity, cohesion, cooperation and solidarity in piety and righteousness. It is incumbent upon all Muslims to adopt caution and vigilance against all attempts to sow division among them, break their ranks, or incite sedition, strife, and hatred in order to corrupt their divine and spiritual bonds with each other.

8. We pray to Almighty God, on this sacred soil and blessed grounds, to protect and preserve the faith of all Muslims, ensure the safety of our homeland, and bring the Arab-Muslim country of Iraq out of its plight, end its trials and tribulations, and reinstate Iraq as a fortress and pillar of the Muslim Ummah in the face of its enemies.

The declaration has received full approval and endorsement from key Shiite and Sunni leadership, most notably from Sheikh Muhammad Syed Tantawi, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Adnan Al-Dulaimi and Sheikh Salah Al-Deen Kuftaro.

It is a historical event. It has never happen in the history of Islam. It is the way Islam is suppose to be practice. It is what the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) worked so hard in his life, but unfortunately it fell apart at the time of his death.

Now the leaders of both faith traditions came together in our holy city, where Islam was born and signed a document denouncing that sectarian killing is forbidden. We (Muslims) know this. Both religious groups have said this separately, but to do it together, it is a WOW!!!

This is like another Eid. A celebration. Only good things can come from this. Will everyone comply? No, but for those who are preaching sectarian violence, they will have a more difficult time in recruiting.

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