From the Birth of Light to the Unity of the Nation; A Look at Islamic Unity Week

Mahdi Jalali / Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib is one of the most determined prophets and the last divine prophet to guide humanity. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was born in the polytheistic society of the Arabian Peninsula, but he always avoided idolatry. He became a prophet at the age of forty, and his most important message was the call to monotheism. His main miracle is the Holy Quran, which, by acting on divine commands, fulfilled the purpose of his mission, which was to perfect moral virtues. The polytheists of Mecca persecuted him and his companions for years, but they never gave up Islam. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) invited people to Islam for thirteen years in Mecca and then migrated to Medina; a migration that marked the beginning of Islamic history.

 

With the efforts of the Prophet (PBUH), almost the entire Arabian Peninsula converted to Islam during his lifetime. In subsequent periods, Islam continued to spread and gradually became a global religion.

 

Before his marriage, the Prophet (PBUH) participated in the Halaf al-Fudul pact; a pact in which a group of Meccans joined forces to support every oppressed person and restore their rights.

 

The Prophet married Khadija at the age of 25 and lived with her for about 25 years. After Khadija's death, he married other wives. The Prophet (PBUH) had children from Khadijah and Maryah, and all of them except Fatima (PBUH) died during his lifetime.

 

The nicknames of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are “Abu al-Qasim” and “Abu Ibrahim”. Some of his titles are: Mustafa, Habibullah, Safiullah, Ni’matullah, Khairat Khalqullah, Sayyid al-Mursalin, Khatam al-Nabiyyin, Rahmat al-‘Alameen and Nabi Ummi.

 

According to the Hadith of al-Thaqlain, the Prophet (PBUH) advised Muslims after him to cling to the Quran and the progeny in order to be saved from misguidance and not to separate from them. He also introduced Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor on various occasions, including the incident of Ghadir.

 

 

 

Birthplace of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)

 

The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was born in the tribe of Abu Talib and in a house that later belonged to Aqeel ibn Abu Talib. The children of Aqil sold this house to Muhammad ibn Yusuf, the brother of Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, who converted it into a palace. During the Abbasid period, Khaizran, the mother of Harun al-Rashid, bought this house and converted it into a mosque. Allama Majlisi, a hadith scholar of the 11th century AH, narrates that during his time there was a place with this name in Mecca and people used to visit it. This building remained until the rule of the Al-Sauds, but it was destroyed due to the Wahhabi beliefs and the prohibition of blessing the relics of the prophets. At the insistence of Sheikh Abbas Qattan, the mayor of Mecca at the time, and his request to King Abdulaziz, a library was built there, which is known today as the "Maktub of Mecca Al-Mukarramah". A plaque with the same title is now installed over the door of this place.

 

 

 

The Birth of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Week of Unity

 

The period between the 12th and 17th of Rabi' al-Awwal is known as the "Week of Unity". In this week, which is formed on the occasion of the birth of the unifying Prophet, covenants become stronger, hearts become closer, and the Islamic nation sings the song of solidarity. This week is a reminder of the instructive lessons of the teacher of humanity, Hazrat Khatmi Martabat (PBUH); the one whose birth changed the face of the world, polytheism turned to monotheism, enmities turned to Islamic brotherhood, and ethnic and racial boundaries gave way to brotherhood and equality.

 

The divine blessing was perfected in the shadow of the birth of the Prophet of Light, and people recognized the path from the well. With the guidance of that Messenger of Unity, they moved from misguidance to guidance and from division to harmony. Now, after more than fourteen centuries, both the memory of that blessed birth is unifying and “unity” itself is considered a fundamental necessity for the Islamic nation.

 

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ayatollah Montazeri proposed naming this period as Unity Week. Then Imam Khomeini (RA) used this term in his speech on January 8, 1988, and since that year, this week has been known by this name.

 

 

 

The idea of ​​naming Unity Week

 

For the first time, in 1977, during his exile in Sistan and Baluchestan, Ayatollah Khamenei suggested to Sunni scholars that from 12 to 17 Rabi’ al-Awwal, on the occasion of the birth of the Prophet (PBUH), according to both Shiite and Sunni traditions, festive gatherings and celebrations be held.

 

 

 

The most important reasons for naming Unity Week

 

1. Islam is the complete and undistorted religion of monotheism.

 

2. Creating convergence between Shiites and Sunnis, who disagree on the date of the Prophet’s (PBUH) birth. Holding two separate celebrations, especially in countries with significant populations of both religions, is not appropriate.

 

3. The Quran is a heavenly and comprehensive book that was revealed to guide all humanity.

 

4. One of the main factors in the victory of the Islamic Revolution was the unity of the Islamic nation.

 

Unity in the Holy Quran

 

In the Quran, God calls the followers of monotheistic religions to unity based on commonalities. Many verses in the Quran emphasize the unity of Muslims and the avoidance of division. Reason and logic also require those who accept God, His Prophet, and His Book to be on a united front.

 

The Quran says: “And hold fast all together to the rope of God and do not be divided…”

 

(And hold fast all together to the rope of God and do not be divided...) Unity is like the thread of a rosary that holds the beads together, and if it breaks, the cohesion is lost. The unity of Muslims means their harmony under the shadow of monotheism, prophecy, and the Quran, and this is the guarantee
The greatness and glory of the Islamic Ummah will be.

 

Effects of Islamic Unity

 

The Quran lists several effects for Islamic unity, the most important of which are the formation of a nation and a state and the achievement of peace and comfort. Islamic unity also eliminates the basis for foreign domination and increases the power of the believers.

 

These goals will only be achieved by adhering to the principles of religion, adhering to the Quran and the Prophet, observing the rights of brotherhood, avoiding suspicion, abandoning fault-finding, and practicing enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. It is only in the shadow of these factors that the Islamic Ummah will achieve peace, dignity, and true unity.