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The Islamic unity week refers to an annual gathering among different adherents of the Muslim sects and denominations in an attempt to promote Islamic unity. The ceremony is a six-day get-together which is held between the two reported dates of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in accordance with the Sunni (i.e. 12th of Rabi al-Awwal) and the Shia traditions (i.e. 17th of Rabi al-Awwal). Without any doubt, the blessed personality of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) remains the main axis of fraternal bonds among Muslims of all denominations throughout the globe.
Meanwhile, this annual ceremony was first introduced by the founder of the Islamic government in Iran; Syed Rohullah Khomeini more than four decades ago after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. He believed that Islam is a religion that caters for all needs of mankind and its dynamic teachings transcend national, political and geographical boundaries. He was of the opinion that the unity of Muslims is one of the basic objectives of Islam which the Qur’an commands: “Hold fast, all together, to Allah’s cord, and do not be divided [into sects]. Remember Allah’s blessing upon you when you were enemies, then He brought your hearts together, so you became brothers with His blessing. And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, whereat He saved you from it. Thus does Allah clarify His signs for you so that you may be guided.” (Qur’an 3: 103)
Interestingly, since the introduction of this annual gathering, it has been welcomed and marked annually with enthusiasm by many Muslims of different sects and denominations across the globe. However, at this present era, the Muslim community is in dire need of Islamic unity more than ever and the Unity Week is a good opportunity for different Muslim sects/denominations to come together despite their differences of thought and opinion and to think about their future plans by closing ranks, and by identifying their archenemies; who are neither Sunni nor Shia: “…Thus, Shi`ah and Sunni brothers must refrain from any kind of discord. Our conflicts, at this time, will only benefit those who are neither Shi`ah, nor Hanafi, nor the followers of any of the other sects. They do not want any of the Islamic sects to exist. They have realized that the only way of achieving this goal is by fueling conflict among the (various) sects. We must bear in mind that we are all Muslims, and believers in the Holy Qur'an and tawhid [monotheism].” (Imam Khomeini, Sahifah, vol. 13, p 49)
References:
1. Ali Quli, Qarai, The Qur’an (with Phrase-by-phrase English translation), London: ICAS Press, 2005, second edition.
2. Imam Khomeini, Sahifeh-ye Imam, Tehran: The Institute for compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini’s works, 2007, fourth edition.
3. Website Address: https://parstoday.com/en/radio/world-i112414start_of_islamic_unity_week