In a statement of His Eminence...

In a statement of His Eminence, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, on the fortieth Day of Ashura, he said: “The first blossom of Ashura and the first bubbles of the spring of love for Husain bloomed in Arbaeen.

The attractive magnetism of Imam Husain attracted the first hearts to himself during Arbaeen; Jābir ibn Abdullah and Atiyah’s visitation of Imam Husain (PBUH) on the fortieth day (Arbaeen) after his martyrdom was the beginning of a blessed movement that has been continuously and successively more glorious, more attractive and more passionate throughout the centuries until today and has made the name and memory of Ashura more alive in the world day by day [12] .” The Opportunities of Islamic Unity in the Arbaeen Procession Islam is a religion of unity and oneness, with one God [i.e., Allah], one Prophet [i.e., Hazrat Muhammad], and one Holy Book [i.e., Qur’an].

The Islamic nation has been introduced in the Holy Qur’an (Qur’an 21:92) as a “united nation” because it has a single common goal and is connected and united with one another through it. Undoubtedly, the most important issue in the Islamic world today is the issue of unity among the adherents of Islam. For meaningful progress and development to be achieved in any society, unity is a priority. In other words, no meaningful development and progress could be achieved in a disunited society.

It is on this basis, therefore, that the glorious Qur’an enjoins the Muslims, all together, to unite to form a united community and to shun division, as it is considered a divine wrath (Qur’an 3: 103). In the opinion of Allamah Ṭabāṭabāī, the ‘cord of Allah’ unto which we are enjoined to hold unto the glorious Qur’an alone or both the Qur’an and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) [13] .

On the other hand, Ayatollah Makārim Shīrāzī, the clause ‘cord of Allah’ might be interpreted to mean ‘Islam’, ‘Qur’an’, or ‘any means or medium through which one may connect himself or communicate with God’ [14] . Meanwhile, the following points could be derived from the above-quoted Qur’anic verse: Unity of the Muslim or Islamic unity is a divine responsibility, and it is considered an obligatory one.

This is because the expression in the verse [ Wa ‘taṣimū , i.e., ‘Hold fast’] indicates an obligation. Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Islamic Unity is definitely a Qur’anic obligation.