The unity week which was first dubbed by the founder of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is trying to promote unity and end differences between Islamic sects.
Imam Khomeini the founder of the Islamic Republic announced the Unity Week in order to bridge differences among Muslim community and strengthen solidarity among them.
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited.”
The need for Muslims to keep united is clearly underscored in this verse.
Not only has the Islamic Unity Week ensured that all Muslims come together to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) over a period of a whole week together, it has also provided a shield against those who seek to exploit their own interests by dividing and segregating Muslims into different sects. Sunni and Shia Muslims have resisted such efforts by coming together in these celebrations.
The Islamic Republic’s quest for knowledge, the respect for others' rights and fostering of humanitarian values introduced true and dynamic face of Islam.
The aim of the Unity Conference is to lay the ground for unity and solidarity in the Islamic World and unison among scholars in order to achieve proximity among their scientific and cultural viewpoints in terms of fiqh(Islamic jurisprudence), Usul (principles of jurisprudence), Kaläm (Islamic theology), and interpretation.
Muslims should be awake, Muslims should be alert that if a dispute takes place among Sunni and Shi'ite brothers, it is harmful to all of us, it is harmful to all Muslims. Those who want to sow discord are neither Sunni nor Shia, they are agents of the superpowers and work for them.
The message of unity is an indication of the fact that Muslims need to rise above their superficial differences and be vigilant about the malevolent intentions of external forces.
The great Imam made Muslims realize that they ought to follow the holy prophet’s perfect path by establishing unity and solidarity among them. In this way the Muslims will become immune from the onslaughts of the hostile powers.
Imam Khomeini also made the Muslims learn to guard against divisive tendencies since the imperialists and colonial powers have made no secret of their plans to divide and rule.
According to Imam, Muslims' failure to check the evil ambitions of the hostile powers and the devilish plots of our avowed foes has been due to lack of unity.