All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we are greatly pleased to receive your question which shows the confidence you place in us. May Allah reward you abundantly for your interest in knowing the teachings of Islam.

In the first place, we would like to stress that it is a religious duty of Muslims to demonstrate remarkable solidarity among themselves regardless of their different inclinations. The Iraqis should mobilize themselves and constitute a united front so as to force the occupiers to leave their lands. In this regard, Muslims must stay away from committing any act that may weaken their strength.

Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty a Senior Lecturer and Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto,Ontario, Canada, states the following:

To answer the first part of your question concerning the attitude of Iraqi Muslims with their different inclinations and sects, I would like to highlight the following:

1. I consider it a religious duty of every Muslim to establish solidarity among all Muslims regardless of sectarian differences.

2. We, as Muslims, must establish law and order, because anarchy and lawlessness cannot be tolerated in Islam at any time.

3. All Muslims should mobilize themselves and show a united front and force the occupiers to leave their lands.

4. We must open our hearts to Allah and seek His Mercy and Grace by earnestly establishing the laws of Allah within ourselves and by dealing with each other on terms of justice and compassion. Allah says: (O ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He will help you and will make your foothold firm.) (Muhammad 47: 7)

By doing so, we merit and earn the support of Allah Almighty, for ultimately all victory belongs to those who are conscious of Allah. Allah Almighty says, (And Moses said unto his people: Seek help in Allah and endure. Lo! the earth is Allah's. He giveth it for an inheritance to whom He will. And lo! the sequel is for those who keep their duty (unto Him).) (Al-`Araf 7: 128)

As to the second part of the question, concerning resisting the American invasion, I say that Muslims should never tolerate occupation of their lands, so they should present a united front of solidarity and impress upon the occupiers that they must vacate their territories.

However, Muslims must do this through using hikmah (wisdom) and strategic methods that are effective rather than simply resorting to rash methods that would only empower the invaders.

Islam does not allow us to commit collective suicide. He Almighty says, (Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah, and be not cast by your own hands to ruin; and do good. Lo! Allah loveth the beneficent.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 195)

He Almighty also says, (O ye who believe! Squander not your wealth among yourselves in vanity, except it be a trade by mutual consent, and kill not one another. Lo! Allah is ever Merciful unto you.) (An-Nisa’ 4: 29)

Thus, the methods we use must be appropriate to the circumstances so that the enemy will eventually be forced to leave.

An extremely crucial point to remember here is that Muslims must stop bickering among themselves and abstain from all activities that would promote disunity and dissension among themselves. It is high time for Muslims to heed the call of Allah Almighty Who says, (Lo! Allah loveth those who battle for His cause in ranks, as if they were a solid structure.) (As-Saff 61: 4)

May Allah guide you, dear brother, to the straight path, and guide you to that which pleases Him, Amen.