Statements at the Meeting with Officials of the System and Guests of the 28th International Conference on Islamic Unity

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

I congratulate the auspicious birth of the esteemed Prophet of Islam and the birth of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon them) to all the honorable attendees. The officials of the country are present; the esteemed guests of the Week of Unity are here; the honorable ambassadors of Islamic countries are in attendance; may this great and joyous occasion be blessed for all of you. I also extend my congratulations to the entire Iranian nation and the Muslim nations, the Islamic Ummah, and to all the freedom-seekers of the world; those for whom the issue of freedom and humanity holds value; for today is the birth of the Prophet of Knowledge; the Prophet of Knowledge, the Prophet of Reason, the Prophet of Ethics, the Prophet of Mercy, the Prophet of Unity, and the Prophet of all great human virtues. Anyone who is attached to these human virtues loves the Prophet of Islam and feels a connection to him.

We, you and I, as Muslims who claim to follow this great figure and take pride in it, and are ready to stand firm and expend our lives and wealth in this path, need to recognize that we must follow these teachings - which the message of Islam encompasses, namely knowledge, reason, wisdom, mercy, unity, ethics, and human virtues that the message of the Prophet of Islam included, and that His Holiness Abu Abdullah Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) undertook the most extensive efforts to develop these concepts and realize these teachings - and strive for them; this is the duty of all Muslims today. Of course, the masses of the people follow the officials of the countries. Governments, elites, intellectuals, scholars, politicians, and similar figures bear the primary responsibility in this vast field. And today, when I look at the issues of our society and the issues of the Islamic world, I see that although all these great contents are important - for the Islamic world, both knowledge and wisdom are important, and ethics are important - what is of utmost priority for the Islamic world today is unity. We Muslims have drifted far apart; unfortunately, policies in this regard have successfully worked to separate the hearts of Muslim groups from one another. Today, we need unity.

If the nations of Islamic countries in this vast region - which constitutes a very large fraction of the world's population - are united not in details, but in general orientations, the Islamic world will reach the pinnacle of progress and elevation; [that is] to be seen together in general issues; this visibility together has an impact. When the leaders of Islamic countries or the intellectuals of Islamic countries speak against one another - even if it is just words - it emboldens the enemy; it gives hope to the enemy; just as today’s reality is. Just the fact that we, even in our statements, stand together, grants greatness to the Islamic world; it grants greatness to the personality of the Islamic Ummah. Wherever we have observed examples of this gathering, even if only bodies are placed next to each other, we have seen that its reflection in the world has been a source of honor and dignity for Islam and Muslims; it has been a source of honor for the Prophet. When we perform the Eid prayer, we stand together and say: "O Allah, You have made this a day of celebration for Muslims and a source of honor and dignity for Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family);" (2) merely standing together in prayer is a source of honor for the Prophet; it is a source of dignity and respect for the Islamic Ummah. The gathering of Hajj is the same. This year, you observed that during Arbaeen, millions of people stood together; this great movement of a group of Muslims - of course, it was not exclusive to Shia, there were Sunnis as well - was reflected in the world, they honored it; they celebrated it; they considered it the largest gathering in the world; who were they? Those who monitor Islamic issues.

I find it appropriate and necessary to express my gratitude to the government of Iraq, the people of Iraq, and the tribes of Iraq who showed sacrifice, service, generosity, and nobility in this very important test, on the occasion of remembering that great gathering. This year’s Arbaeen event was extraordinary. The enemies of Islam and the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt thought they had blocked this path. Look at what a great movement occurred! Even when bodies stand together, this is how it is reflected. If we are united, the Islamic countries, the Muslim nations - Sunni and Shia and various sects of Sunni and Shia - have their hearts clear towards one another, do not harbor suspicion towards one another, do not have ill intentions towards one another, do not insult one another, see what will happen in the world; what dignity will be created for Islam! Unity; unity.

Today, both among the Sunnis and among the Shia, there are hands at work to separate them; all these hands, if you investigate, lead back to the espionage and intelligence centers of the enemies of Islam; not just the enemies of Iran, not just the enemies of Shia; the enemies of Islam. That Shia which has connections to MI6 of England, that Sunni who is a CIA mercenary of America, is neither a true Shia nor a true Sunni; both are against Islam. For 35 years, we have been raising this cry in the Islamic Republic; we do not just say it, we act on it. The assistance that the Islamic Republic has provided to its brothers in the Islamic world until today has mostly been assistance to the Sunni brothers. We stood by the Palestinians, we stood by the faithful people of the region, because we knew that the issue of unity is at the forefront of Islamic issues today. I recommend, I insist to the scholars, to the intellectuals of the Islamic world, to the politicians of the Islamic world, not to speak so much of division. A number of people in the world are spending money for Islamophobia, to tarnish the image of Islam in the world, [and then] we also try to tarnish each other’s image, to scare people from one another! This is against wisdom, against politics.

I have heard that some regional governments have based their foreign policy on opposition to Iran! Why? This is against reason, against wisdom; this is a foolish act. Why would a person commit such a great mistake? On the contrary; we have based our foreign policy on friendship and brotherhood and connection with all Muslim countries and regional countries, both neighbors and non-neighbors; this is our policy; we have acted this way and will continue to act this way in the future. Today, thanks be to God, the Iranian nation has gained this insight, this awareness, this high knowledge to understand that the future interests of its country depend on Islamic unity, with the Muslim nations and with other countries. Of course, there are those who strive, who try, who seek to create disruption, to create distrust, to tempt, but thanks be to God, our nation has understood this today. This cry of our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified) - from before the victory of the revolution, and then from the beginning of the formation of the Islamic system regarding the issue of unity - has had its effect; our people have become aware; this is the duty of all. Today, all Muslims in all corners of the world must think of the Islamic Ummah, must think of Islamic unity; if we think of the Islamic Ummah, the interests of our countries will also be secured. The enemy's interest is to separate us, to attack one country, to recruit from another country; the enemy's interest lies in this, we must not allow it. Who is the enemy? The enemy is the capitalism of America and global arrogance, which today is led by America and the Zionists - the Zionist elements - that the Zionist government in occupied Palestine is also a part of that dangerous collection and that deadly cancer that the Zionists have created in the world. We must stand against these; we must refer to Islam, we must refer to the texts of the Quran.

One sees and observes writings where sometimes things are said and written that are not in accordance with the verses of the Quran. The Quran says, "Say: We believe in God and in what has been revealed to us and in what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and... and in what was given to Moses and [Jesus and what was given to] the prophets," (3) after mentioning all those previous laws, the duty of a Muslim is to believe in them, then it says: "So if they believe in the like of what you believe in, then they have certainly been guided." (4) Islam does not accept pluralism; those who promote that "Islam, because it has honored Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus, is in favor of pluralism" should refer to the Quran, should examine the Islamic texts; out of ignorance and negligence, they mention something; Islam is this: "So if they believe in the like of what you believe in, then they have certainly been guided; and if they turn away, then they are in schism; and God will suffice you against them." (5) This is the meaning of the Quran [is]. Then among the Muslims, "He is eager for you"; (6) regarding the Prophet, it says, "He is eager for the believers, compassionate and merciful." (7) Towards the believers, he is compassionate [but] "harsh against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves"; (8) against those who are hostile to you and are your enemies, be "harsh"; that is, be firm; do not be like a soft earthen rampart that the enemy can penetrate from anywhere; be steadfast, be firm, but "merciful among themselves"; let not names separate you, let not geographical borders make you enemies; this is one of the lessons of the Prophet. Today - the day of the birth of the noble Prophet - it is good for us to take lessons; merely honoring and praising the Prophet is not what is expected of us today; we must take lessons, we must seek to realize what the Prophet was sent for, which I mentioned is unity today in the Islamic world. We hope that God Almighty grants us all success to act upon what we say; O Lord! Strengthen and elevate the Islamic world and the Islamic Ummah day by day.

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