The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei received the participants in the 2nd Congress in Commemoration of Ibn Maytham Bahrani and also a large number of Sunni and Shia ulema from various Islamic countries on Monday, January 15.
In an address to the audience, the Leader stated that the unity of the Islamic world is a noble and attainable objective which the Islamic ulema and intellectuals should make every effort to accomplish.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the vigilance and awareness of the Islamic ulema and the support and congruity on the part of the Islamic governments as contributing to the unity of the Islamic world.
"If this unity is materialized, it will be to the benefit of the Islamic countries, since they will no longer be forced to seek help from Britain and the United States owing to their fear and weakness," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Further in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic stated that the differences of opinion among various schools of thought are something natural, but he pointed out that colonial powers are presently taking advantage of ignorance and prejudice and misconceptions to foment division and discord among Muslims. The Leader added that following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, such divisive measures have intensified.
Ayatollah Khamenei described Britain as skilled at creating conflict among Muslims because of its long presence in the region.
"The prominent Islamic personalities who are renowned for their struggle against colonial powers, the personalities such as Imam Khomeini, Sayyid Jamaluddin Asadabadi, Sheikh Muhammad Abduh and Sharafuddin Ameli, all placed great emphasis on the unity of the Muslim Ummah and made every effort to prevent the differences of opinion from turning into a tool against the Islamic world," Ayatollah Khamenei observed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the attempts made by the arrogant powers to foment division and schism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Lebanon. He noted that those who are behind these divisive measures are neither Shia nor Sunni Muslims.
"By fomenting discord and inciting extremist elements, the intelligence services of the United States and Israel are playing a key role in creating insecurity in Iraq, and the most insecure regions in Iraq are the places at which the American troops are present," the Leader noted.
Ayatollah Khamenei also touched on the enemies' stratagems against the Islamic Revolution. He stated that ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the United States has been trying to portray this revolution as a Shia revolution.
"However, the fact of the matter is that our revolution is an Islamic Revolution relying on the Holy Qur'an, and it is proud of hoisting the flag of Islamic values and promoting divine precepts and spirituality. It has been a successful revolution, and its success has given rise to certain enmities," he remarked.
The Leader pointed out that there would be no such enmities if the Islamic Revolution of Iran did not support the nations of Palestine, Afghanistan and Lebanon and, in general, any Muslim who adhered to and worked for his religion.
"Despite all these enmities, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has imbued Muslim nations with a sense of taking pride in Islam, and today the awakening and honor of the Islamic Ummah have become more prominent in the face of the enemy's defeats and failures," the Leader observed.
Further in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the scientific character of Ibn Maytham Bahrani, describing him as an eminent Islamic jurisprudent and a great dialectician. He noted that Bahrani's exegesis of Nahjulbalaghah is one of the best exegeses of this book.
At the beginning of the meeting, the director of the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization (ICCO) Hojjatoleslam Mohammadi-Araqi presented a report about a conference attended by Sunni and Shia ulema and intellectuals from various Islamic countries and intended to consolidate Islamic unity and solidarity.
Afterwards, a number of Sunni and Shia ulema talked about the need for Islamic solidarity and vigilance on the part of scholars and intellectuals of the Islamic world.