Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Meeting with System Officials and Guests Participating in the Unity Conference

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of the noble Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be upon him and his family), and also the anniversary of the blessed birth of Hazrat Imam Ja'far Sadiq (peace be upon him). In fact, today is a great celebration for the Islamic Ummah.

First, I congratulate this auspicious occasion to the great Islamic Ummah, to the dear nation of Iran, and to the honorable attendees of this assembly - especially to the guests and non-Iranian brothers present here. Secondly, in accordance with honoring and celebrating the personality of the noble Prophet of Islam, we Muslims have many things to say to one another and to study and examine among ourselves; because the Prophet of Islam was the teacher of all goodness, justice, humanity, knowledge, brotherhood, and the teacher of the continuous growth and progress of humanity until the end of history. When can humanity imagine a time when it would be free from these invaluable lessons? Humanity today, like always, is in need of the teachings and education of the Prophet of Islam.

What I want to convey today in this gathering of the elite and chosen ones of the Islamic Ummah is the issue of unity and solidarity among Muslims. Today, the Islamic world and the Islamic Ummah are facing great calamities. It is true that many of these calamities have arisen from within ourselves as Muslims; we have been negligent and lazy, and due to our selfishness and materialism, we have not paved the way for the Islamic Ummah towards the peak of human development, which we must return to; we must move forward; we must repent; but there is no doubt that in recent periods of history, a very significant part of these backwardness, calamities, and problems has also arisen from the false global order of today and yesterday. The global system is a system of authoritarianism; a system based on force; it is not a system for human life; it is a system of jungle life.

Look at the state of the Islamic world! For years, we have remembered the issue of Palestine as a deep wound in the Islamic body, and today Iraq has been added to it! See what the powerful do relying on force. All illogical and false arguments are presented and acted upon in the world as defensible and logical, relying on force and the logic of weapons, political power, and money. Crimes that are considered crimes and offenses by all nations of the world are openly committed, and sometimes they even give it a name for appearance's sake, while they know that no one accepts it; but sometimes they do not even put a name or mask on it. The usurping Zionist government openly declares that it will assassinate Palestinian leaders, and the American government officially and openly supports it! This is the state of the current global system.

Terrorism - which has become an excuse for the arrogant powers of the United States to exert force - is explicitly realized as a permissible and legitimate act in their language and in the actions of the Zionist rulers, and all rely on force and the power of weapons. The military occupation and seizure of Iraq and the humiliation and degradation of a cultured and great nation is an international crime; but they carry out this act explicitly under the titles of human rights and defense of democracy and freedom, which no one in the world believes and accepts; because the behavior of the occupiers inside Iraq shows the exact opposite of this issue, and it is clear that they pay no attention to human rights and the people's right to determine their government and do not value it at all; they appoint themselves, they determine the rulers, they pass laws, and they punish those who violate the law without any trial; that too with the punishment of killing. See what is happening in Iraq! This is the current state of the Islamic Ummah.

The Islamic Ummah, simply because it is located in a wealthy part of the world, because the rotation of the current civilization of the world depends on the resources that are abundantly available in this part of the world, has become the target of the powers that consider any crime permissible for themselves in this path; this is the state of the Islamic Ummah! Can the Islamic Ummah not defend itself against this powerful encroachment? The answer is yes, we can defend ourselves; we have many tools at our disposal to defend our rights and existence. We are a large population; we have immense wealth; we have outstanding individuals and a spiritual capital that gives our people the power to stand against the bullies; we have a rich culture and civilization that is unparalleled in the world; we have many resources, therefore we can potentially defend ourselves. But why do we not defend ourselves?! Why do we not take action in the field? Because we are not united and one; because we have been separated by various pretexts. The organized and equipped army called the Islamic Ummah has been divided into groups whose concern is to confront and fight each other and to fear each other and to attack each other. In these circumstances, it is clear that this army will not be effective.

Today is the time for the Islamic world to reconsider; to seriously think about the issue of unity. Today, the threat from America in this region is not directed at one or two countries; it is directed at all. Today, the threat from the Zionist capitalists behind the American ruling apparatus does not stop at swallowing a part of our region; they want to swallow the entire region, and today they openly say this. The "Greater Middle East Initiative" means nothing else. Since the establishment of the usurping Zionist government over fifty years ago and since about a hundred years ago when this idea took shape in Western and European circles, the intention has been the same: they want to swallow this region; take it away; they need it. The people of this region do not matter to them; all are under threat.

When all are under threat, the most rational way is for everyone to think and join hands. Our serious recommendation and demand from Islamic governments and nations is to think and work on this matter, which requires effort and preparation; the prerequisites must be secured. Of course, the enemy will not remain idle and will use old divisive tools; they will use ethnicities, sects, and tribalism and will emphasize issues that Islam has stressed should not be highlighted. Islam has emphasized that ethnicities are not the criteria for identity; "Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most pious of you." Islam has emphasized that Muslim brothers should behave brotherly with each other; it has not said that brothers who are Sunni or Shia or belong to some other sect, but it has said that Muslims are "Indeed, the believers are brothers." Anyone who believes in this book and this Quran and this religion and this Qibla is a believer; these are brothers with each other; Islam has told us this. But we hide daggers behind our backs to stab our brothers! In all sections, there are culprits. These must be stopped and confronted. Today, the Islamic Ummah needs unity for its life, dignity, and salvation, and to raise the flag of Islam. What logic can resist these issues to create discord? Unity takes precedence over all necessities and priorities and is more important and prior to them. Why do we not understand the necessity of unity among Muslims?! A heavy burden is on our shoulders, and this period is a sensitive one. If the enemies can seize this region with the exercise of power, the Islamic world will fall back again like during the colonial era, and the distance of the Islamic Ummah from the modern and industrial world will increase by another hundred years. We must respond; today we are responsible; today governments, elites, prominent figures, cultural and religious leaders are responsible; all of us are responsible for the unity of the Islamic world. Our great Imam (may God’s mercy be upon him) emphasized the unity of the Islamic Ummah, the solidarity of Muslims, and not magnifying small excuses from before the victory of the revolution until the last days of his life, and today we see and understand that this was a very wise and correct recommendation.

We ask the Almighty God, by the blessing of the pure spirit of the Seal of the Prophets and the struggles of this unparalleled human figure; this best of the children of Adam, and the struggles that great Muslims have made, and the pure spirit of Imam Ja'far Sadiq (peace be upon him) and the efforts that this great figure made, to awaken all of us from the sleep of negligence; to guide us to the right path; to make us aware and capable of what is our duty, and God willing, to turn the evil of the enemies of the Islamic Ummah back upon themselves.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.