The Leader, stressing the significance of Islamic unity and the efforts of enemies to undermine it, said that the issue of the “Islamic Ummah” should never be forgotten.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution made the remarks in a meeting held on the occasion of the beginning of the Unity Week and the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Leader stated that the issue of the Islamic Ummah's identity is a fundamental issue and transcends nationality, as geographical borders do not change the truth and identity of the Islamic community.
Referring to the hostile efforts to make Muslims indifferent to their Islamic identity, Ayatollah Khamenei said: It is against Islamic teachings for a Muslim to be indifferent to the suffering of another Muslim in Gaza or other parts of the world.
Imam Khamenei called on Sunni scholars to rely on Islamic identity and the Islamic Ummah, and referring to the longstanding schemes and activities of ill-wishers aimed at fueling sectarian differences in the Islamic world, especially in Iran, he emphasized:
"They seek to divide Shia and Sunni in our country and other Islamic regions by using intellectual, propaganda, and economic tools, and by pushing individuals from both sides to speak ill of each other, they fuel stubbornness and discord."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution considered the solution and way to counter these plots to be relying on unity, and emphasized: The issue of unity is not a tactic, but rather a Quranic principle.
Expressing regret over certain intentional or unintentional actions that harm Shia-Sunni unity, Imam Khamenei said:
"However, despite the numerous plots, our Sunni community has seriously countered these hostile intentions, as evidenced by the 15,000 Sunni martyrs who defended the country during the Sacred Defense and other periods, as well as the martyrdom of many Sunni scholars in the path of righteousness and the Revolution."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that achieving the important goal of dignity for the Islamic Ummah is only possible through unity, and added:
"Today, one of the absolute obligations is to support the oppressed people of Gaza and Palestine, and anyone who neglects this duty will certainly be held accountable before God."
In this meeting, Molavi Abdulrahman Chabahari, a Sunni scholar from Sistan and Baluchestan Province and the Friday prayers leader of Chabahar, Molavi Abdulrahim Khatibi, a Sunni scholar from Hormozgan Province and the Friday prayers leader of Qeshm, and Mamosta Abdul Salam Emami, a Sunni scholar from West Azarbaijan Province and the Friday prayers leader of Mahabad, praised the Islamic Republic's and the Leader's unity-oriented approaches and their support for the Sunni community.
They emphasized the need to strengthen unity-building grounds and utilize local capacities, particularly in Sunni-populated regions, to advance the country and considered countering Takfiri and extremist currents a necessity./129