The Prophet's Birth and Muslim's Unity
وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا
``... Truth has come and Falsehood has vanished; surely Falsehood was [a thing by nature] vanishing.'' (Holy Qur'an 17:81)
It had been foretold in all heavenly scriptures. The prophets of the yore had given the glad tidings of the man to come with the universal message. And when that promised ``Mercy to the Creation'' (Holy Qur'an 21:107) did finally arrive by the will of the Almighty Creator in Mecca on the 17th of Rabi'-ul-Awwal, truth became fully manifest and Falsehood fizzled out.
The Islamic Unity Week is marked between 12-17th Rabiul Awwal on the occasion of the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Mohammad SAW. This period in which Muslims ponder on the fundamental call of unity according to the Holy Quran was proposed by the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini SA, Since then, the Unity Week is not only marked in Iran, but also throughout the world, and has played an important role in bringing the various Islamic Schools of Thought on a single platform, since Allah is One, and Muslims believe in the single Qur’an and bow towards the same focal point, that is the Holy Ka’ba, five times a day during daily prayers.
Other commonalities among Muslims including fasting during the same month of Ramadhan and performance of the annual Hajj pilgrimage on the same dates of the month of Zil-Hijja. In view of these and other remarkable factors of unity, it is but natural for Muslims following the different schools of jurisprudence to close ranks in solidarity, especially in view of the divine commandment in the Holy Qur’an to وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا “And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited.” (Holy Qur'an 3:103)
Bridging the gap
The late Imam Khomeini’s foresight helped bridge the gap of five days between the two dates believed to be the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). According to Sunni Islamic narrations, the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal is recognized as the birth date of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). On the other hand Islamic sources relied upon by Shia Muslims and based on the narrations from the Ahlul Bayt (The Prophet's pure progeny); the auspicious birthday of the Holy Prophet (SAW) was on 17th of Rabi-al-Awwal. In order to bridge this difference and use it as an opportunity to unite the ranks of Muslims, the founder of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Imam Khomeini (SA) designated the period of Milad-un-Nabi celebrations from 12th to the 17th of Rabi al-Awwal as the Islamic Unity Week. This dynamic concept aims to bring all Muslim schools of thought on the common platform of Islamic unity.
There is indeed unity in diversity and the idea of Islamic Unity Week has awakened Muslims from centuries of slumber largely because of the discord sowing policies of the enemies of Islam especially the Western colonialists and their local ignorant agents. The Ummah has also begun to realize that it is only unity and solidarity that will enable Muslims to utilize their vast untapped potential and rescue them from the never ending devious plots of their enemies who range from imperialists, Zionists, arrogant powers and Islamphobes. Islamic unity is the need of the hour, especially after the crusading campaign against Muslims unleashed by western governments, led by the great Satan, the US, in the name of combating terrorism following the highly suspicious incidents that rocked New York and Washington on September 11, 2001.
The US has since occupied two Muslim countries, Afghanistan and Iraq, and is threatening other Islamic lands. Yemen is emerging as yet another theatre of the never ending US crusades to occupy Islamic countries while Somalia suffers from interfering policies of the U.S. The issues of Palestine continue to linger on as Zionists and their western allies, aware of lack of solidarity within Islamic ranks, continue to occupy the Holy Quds, the first Qibla of Muslims. The plight of 1.5 Million besieged Palestinians in Gaza is should serve as a call to unity among the over 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world. In view of the threats, it is essential for the Islamic world to close ranks and coordinate efforts to counter the Zionist and U.S led aggressions. The predators have hatched a variety of plots to plunder the vast wealth and natural resources of Muslim countries through different means and at the same time brainwash minds of uninformed Muslims by way of distorted media reports, glamorous yet misleading films and TV programs, deceptive newspapers and magazines, decadent internet websites and the violence-filled computer games.
This is in stark contrast to the logical reasoning of Islam that gave the world a lasting civilization at a time when Europe was languishing in the dark ages. It is the quest for knowledge, the respect for others rights and fostering of humanitarian values that made Islam and true believers dynamic, much to the detriment of the detractors. It is the lifestyle and guidance of the Prophet (SAW), the immaculate members of his household, the Ahlul Bayt and the rightly guided companions which draws out the path of righteousness by giving a practical demonstration of the revealed word of Allah for the betterment of human society and acts as a beacon of light for mankind.
Muslims thus ought to follow the Prophet’s perfect path of establishing unity and solidarity, and thereby becoming immune from the onslaughts of their common enemies. They should be on guard against divisive tendencies since the Zionist regime and Western imperialists have made no secret of their plans to divide and rule. Alas, our failure to check the evil ambitions of the US and the devilish plots of our avowed enemy the illegal Zionist entity called Israel, have been due to lack of unity. Solidarity can neither be superficial by mere expressing of words of sympathy nor can it be imposed. The plight of the Palestinian Muslims and the American atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan, are examples in this regard. Our lethargy and our mere lip service makes matters more complicated matters. Unity and solidarity ought to be based on sincerity of purpose. This is possible only by heeding what God Almighty commands in the Holy Qur’an and what was practically demonstrated by the Prophet. Therefore, it is wrong to believe that slogans and submissive ties with the enemies will save Muslims. A true Muslim state has to be independent and independence is not possible unless people strive for self-sufficiency, solidarity and security
