A week-long festival is each year held to mark the occasion and promote the teachings of the Prophet of Islam.
Imam Khomeini once said in a historic address as following:
"Today, world peace is such that all countries are under the political influence of the superpowers; they observe a control everywhere and have schemes for defeating every group. The most important of these is sowing discord among brothers.”
Late Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran Imam Khomeini declared the birth anniversary of the holy prophet of Islam occasion as the Islamic Unity Week back in the 1980s.
One major example of Imam Khomeini's initiative for Islamic Unity is the establishment of the Islamic Unity Week.
The 17th day of Rabi al-Awwal, which falls on November 03 this year, is believed by Shia Muslims to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), while Sunni Muslims regard the 12th day of the month (November 10) as the birthday of the last prophet.
Imam Khomeini also said: "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."
"Those who attempt to cause discord among our Sunni and Shia brothers are people who conspire for the enemies of Islam and want the enemies of Islam to triumph over Muslims. They are the supporters of America and some are supporters of the Soviet Union.
This year’s birth anniversary of the honorable prophet comes at a time when Islamophobia is growing in some parts of the world, and amid French president Emmanuel Macron’s recent insulting comments about the holy prophet of Islam.
An initiative by the late founder of Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini, the arrival of Unity Week - as its titles suggests – serves as a big opportunity for Muslims to once again return to the main teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him ) such as strengthening unity among Muslims.
The arrival of the birthday anniversary of Islam's holy prophet is also an opportunity for mankind to review the life and words of the Prophet Muhammad to see the real face of Islam.
Besides calling for boosting Islamic brotherhood among entire Muslim Ummah, those attending ceremonies marking Unity Week say the cementing of unity among people is one of the musts associated with Unity Week.
The occasion also marks birth anniversary of Imam Sadiq (PBUH), one of the most prominent infallible sucessors of the holy prophet of Islam. The late founder of the Islamic Republic once said in a historic message that " Our jurisprudence, which is an endless sea, is the result of Imam Sadiq’s endeavor.
The late founder of the Islamic-Republic time and again hailed divine-oriented movement launched by Imam Sadiq (PBUH), a truthful successor of the holy prophet of Islam, at decisive juncture of history. He furthered Imam Sadiq (PBUH)’s school of thought and stressed on the following the teachings of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) and his school of thought.
Imam Khomeini once said in a historic address that he is honored to be a follower of Imam Sadiq (PBHH), who furthered divine teachings and revived original teachings of Islam at very sensitive juncture of history.
"We are honored to say that our religion is Ja’fari. Our jurisprudence, which is an endless sea, is the result of Imam Sadiq’s endeavor, we are proud to be the followers of the innocent Imams.”
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