Islam is the religion of universal brotherhood and solidarity and strongly dislikes violence and disunity. As the Last and Greatest Messenger of God, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) invited all humanity, whether Arabs or non-Arabs, whites or blacks, the rich and the poor, to join monotheist ranks on the basis of virtue as brothers in faith.

The holy Qur’an, the Final Revelation of the Creator for all His creatures, bears testimony to the impeccable characteristics of the Prophet, whose advent with the universal mission of Islam, was foretold by the prophets of the past in every age and geographical area. In view of these facts, Muslims are those who have shunned hatred and violence, and submitted wholeheartedly to God for the sake of peace and fraternity. These egalitarian values had inspired Muslims in the past to build the great Islamic civilization of science and culture. In our age the essential factors behind the rapid spread of Islam throughout the globe, is the solidarity between the different Muslim denominations, whether Shi’ites or Sunnis – despite the feverish efforts of the enemies of humanity to sow seeds of discord. Thus, in order to solidify Muslims ranks, every year on the auspicious birth anniversary of the Messenger of Mercy, the Islamic Republic of Iran holds the Unity Week for bringing Muslims of the various schools of jurisprudence on a single platform. Please stay with us to hear the remarks on Islamic Unity by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in his meeting with participants of the 27th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran.

In an audience the Leader granted to participants from all over the world for the Islamic Unity Conference, said the most important issue of the Ummah is to safeguard the solidarity between Sunnis and Shi’ite Muslims. He called this a great duty by pointing out the commonalities among Muslims that completely overshadow the minor differences, which the enemies of Islam are trying to blow out of proportion in order to splinter Muslim ranks. Ayatollah Khamenei, who pays special attention to the chronic question of the Zionist-usurped land of Palestine, said the Islamic Awakening has embittered the enemies, who for the past 65 years have tried in vain, with all their might, to grant legitimacy to the illegal Zionist entity. The Muslim ummah is opposed to such moves, and to the very existence of the Zionists in Palestine, whose Islamic identity they have tried to erase, but failed. He cited as proofs of the awareness of the Islamic ummah, the 33-day Israeli war against Lebanon in 2006, and the 22-day war the Zionists imposed on Gaza during December 2008 and January 2009, followed by the 8-day war in Gaza in recent years. The Ummah showed that despite the intricate plots of the US and other western regimes, it has managed to preserve its identity, to slap the fake and imposed Zionist regime in the face, and to frustrate the backer of Israel. The Islamic Ummah showed that it has not forgotten the issue of Palestine, and this is a very important issue.

According to Ayatollah Khamenei, it is in such conditions that the frustrated enemy is now focusing all its efforts on creating discord and civil wars amongst Muslims by backing deviant groups such as the Takfiris which are serving the cause of global arrogance. The plot is to distract the attention of Muslims from the issue of Palestine and the illegal existence of Israel, by embroiling them in trivial matters. Without the least doubt these terrorist groups have been created by global arrogance, and are being backed by them with weapons and funds. He urged the Islamic world to pay attention to this issue because it is a grave danger for the ummah. This crisis in not spontaneous, but has been planned over a long period of time. There are different policies and spy networks behind these moves. There is big money behind these moves. Muslims should confront any plot which is against their unity. This is a great responsibility for all of us, whether Sunni or Shi’ite Muslims.

Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the US backing for reactionary Arab regimes and the other enemies of Islam, and reiterated: Unfortunately, certain Muslim governments are adding fuel to the fire of this discord. They do not understand that fueling this discord will kindle a fire which will burn them as well. This is what global arrogance wants. Their plan is to pit Muslims against each other. They want a group of Muslims to wage a war against another group of Muslims. Those who give fan the flames of such strife are on the payroll of the puppet rulers of certain Muslim states. These regimes which are clients of the West give them money and weapons in order to create discord and fratricide. For the past three or four years, in order to dampen and derail the Islamic Awakening they have resorted to such a tactics. On the deviant Takfiri tendencies and its promotion by global arrogance, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution recited ayah 29 of Surah Fath which says:

"Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah, and those who are with him are hard against the faithless and merciful amongst themselves."

He said that in view of this ayah of the holy Qur’an, Islam calls on Muslims to stand against the enemies of religion and to be kind towards each other, instead of falling prey to the enemy propaganda. Religious scholars and the elites in every country shoulder an important role in molding and guiding public opinion in this regard. Especially university professors have more specific role in raising the awareness of youths and students. Unity means reliance on common points, which among the Muslims are far more than their trivial differences.

yatollah Khamenei said the main responsibility in this regard falls on the shoulders of outstanding personalities, whether political, scientific or religious. Religious scholars in the Islamic world should prevent Muslims from creating and religious discord. Academic scholars should help students understand that today unity is the most important issue in the world of Islam. The most important issue is unity for the sake of reaching goals. These goals are achieving political independence, establishing religious popular rule and implementing divine rules in Islamic societies. Islam invites people to freedom, dignity and honour. This is an obligation and responsibility today. Political personalities too should know that their dignity and honour lies in their reliance on Muslim peoples, not on foreigners and those who are arch enemies of Islamic societies. The way of ridding the Ummah from problems is to follow the Sharia of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the guidelines of the holy Qur’an. The Leader referred to the important duty of Muslims and said: Muslims should do their best to achieve the freedom as desired by Islam, independence of Muslims, establishment of popular governments in Muslim states, and involvement of people in all decision-making.