The founder of the Islamic Republic can be regarded as one of the greatest harbingers of unity in the Muslim world and has ample emphases in his statements and writings, juristic views and practical conduct on the exigency of unity of the Muslim nations and sects and the avoidance of dissension in the ranks of the Islamic ummah.
The emphasis on unity in the works of Imam Khomeini has root in the school of mystical philosophy of Imam Khomeini, which is based upon the real unity of the world of creation and affair as well as the real unity of the being.
Imam Khomeini frequently cited following verse during his speeches and messages to accomplish unity among various sects of Muslim.
"And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited, and remember the favor of Allah on you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became brothers; and you were on the brink of a pit of fire, then He saved you from it; thus does Allah make clear to you His communications that you may follow the right way." (Holy Quran, 3:103)
According to Imam Khomeini, unity and integrity of the Muslims and the necessity of unity and congruence between them stem from the essential teachings and instructions of the religion of Islam and principles of the Quranic culture.
Thus, Islamic unity has been one of the goals of the Islamic Revolution and on this basis Imam Khomeini (may his soul rest in peace) declared the Islamic Unity Week 33 years ago on the occasion of Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) birth anniversary in order to provide suitable grounds for exchange of ideas amongst intellectuals.
It is noteworthy, from the earliest days of the success of the Islamic Revolution in Iran under the leadership of Imam Khomeini, the enemies of Islam have tried to isolate the new Islamic State and limit its impact on the global Islamic movement.
One of the most vicious tactics used for this has been to dismiss the Revolution as a mere Shia phenomenon. Imam Khomeini recognized this, hence his immediate and intense emphasis on the Islamic nature of the Revolution and the unity of the entire Muslim Ummah.
One of the most important of tactics of the enemies of Islam is sowing discord among Muslim brothers.
"Muslims should be awake, Muslims should be alert that if a dispute takes place among Sunni and Shia brothers, it is harmful to all of us, it is harmful to all Muslims. Those who want to sow discord are neither Sunni nor Shia, they are agents of the superpowers and work for them.
"Those who attempt to cause discord among our Sunni and Shia brothers are people who conspire for the enemies of Islam and want the enemies of Islam to triumph over Muslims,” Imam Khomeini said, adding, "I hope that through considering this Islamic precept - that all Muslims are brothers - all Islamic countries will triumph against the superpowers and succeed in actualizing all Islamic ordinances.”
"Muslims are brothers and will not be segregated by the pseudo-propaganda sponsored by corrupt elements. The source of this matter - that Shia should be on one side and Sunni on the other - is on the one hand ignorance and on the other hand propaganda of the foreigners,” Imam Khomeini said on another occasion.
"If Islamic brotherhood and unity comes to the fore among Islamic countries, such will become a great power which none of the global powers will be able to cope with.”
"Shia and Sunni brothers should avoid every kind of dispute. Today, discord among us will only benefit the enemies. They neither want Shia nor Sunni to exist, and know the way to sow dispute between you and us. We must pay attention that we are all Muslims and we all believe in the Quran; we all believe in Tawheed (Oneness of God) and must work to serve the Quran and Tawheed."
Strengthening the Muslim world is one of the fundamental ideals in the thought of Imam Khomeini. Along this line, the presence of unity and solidarity in the internal ranks of the Muslims, in his opinion, is calculated as one the most significant elements of power, particularly in the struggle against the global colonial and exploited powers.