Publish date15 Nov 2019 - 19:05
Story Code : 442818
33rd Islamic Unity Conference:

Day one: Our unity will be our honor

Day one: Our unity will be our honor
A chilly morning in the Iranian capital of Tehran welcomes the guests from different countries arriving to attend the opening ceremony of the annual Islamic Unity Conference held concurrent with the Islamic Unity Week which marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
 
Led by prominent cleric, Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, the hosting institution, World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, has been holding the event for nearly four decades adding to the scale of the conference in every aspect.


The opening ceremony begins at 9:00 with recitation of verses from the holy Qur'an as is the tradition for all formal summits in the Islamic countries bringing the participants to silence in the Iran International Conference Center.
 
Ayatollah Araki officially opens the 33rd Islamic Unity Conference under the title of "Ummah Unity in Defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque" extending his congratulations on the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his grandson Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS), sixth Shia Imam before inviting the guests to listen to remarks by President Rouhani.
 
In his short message to the participants he calls on all Muslims to view defense of the holy al-Aqsa Mosque as a mission.

 
President Hassan Rouhani also touches upon the crises across the world of Islam with a majority of references to the role of the US and Zionist regime of Israel in the issues in the Middle East.

He stresses importance of informing the world of Islam particularly the younger generation on recognizing the friends from foes and warns of division in the Muslim countries as in his words," Division in a nation translates to disgrace and loss of honor among its members."

"Let's not hesitate to believe in our unity which will bring us honor" he urges in a major part of his speech as the president notes that this solidarity will solve a lot of Muslim world issues.

The remarks are followed by speeches from some other prominent participants among them representative of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, prayer leader of Najaf and Syria's Minister of Awqaf (endowments.)
 
As is the tradition for every year participants are invited from all Islamic denominations. The event makes a proper opportunity for Shia and Sunni seminary students and theology students who listen enthusiastically to prominent religious figures.
 
The diversity of outfits and complexions you see and the languages spoken are dazzling. According to an executive member of the event more than 350 guests from 93 countries and over 250 Iranian Sunni dignitaries are attending the 33rd Islamic Unity Conference.

Halfway to the opening ceremony and first part of the conference the prayer call (Adhan) invites the guests to noon prayer and there is not a better manifestation of what all these people have gathered for, congregational prayer which is led by a Sunni prayer leader although the majority of participants are Shia and prayer leaders in their cities. After all they are saying prayer towards the same Qibla and nothing would suit this day more than a unity prayer.

Different institutes and unions have made the best of the opportunity to contribute to the event as even the lunch time is another lively part of the ceremony with a group of young men singing and playing music on commemoration of the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The first day continues in the afternoon commissions held in different halls at Azadi Hotel just a block away from the Iran International Conference Center.
 
And here is an exhibition with several booths each one introducing an institute like Imam Khomeini (RA) Relief Foundation or unions like assembly of Muslim women, an affiliate union of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Discourse Center of Peace for All, University of Islamic Denominations and Sa'adi Foundation whose representative says the guests have already shown great interest in their Persian language courses.

As Union of Muslim Athletes holds meeting in one hall, the guests are enjoying the final hours of the first day in the lobby watching live football match between Iran and Iraq national teams.

The first day has been quite busy for the guests, reporters, photojournalists and participants though what brings the guests together in the main hall of the hotel is the same television screen. At the end of the day one would only hope that world people manage to view the differences and commonalities peacefully and respectfully.
 
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