39th International Islamic Unity Conference Opens in Tehran

WANA (Sep 08) – The 39th International Islamic Unity Conference officially began a short while ago in Tehran, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attending the opening ceremony at the Summit Hall of Islamic Countries.

This year’s conference, which runs for three days from Monday to Wednesday (September 8–10), brings together 80 prominent scholars, 210 special guests, and around 2,800 activists from across the Islamic world.

In his opening report, Hojjatoleslam Hamid Shahriari, Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, emphasized that the “tree of unity” now bears fruit not only domestically or regionally but also globally. He noted that such unity extends beyond Muslims, encompassing non-Muslims as well, forming what he called the global unity of the oppressed—a concept rooted in both the Quran and the Torah, which, he said, will ultimately be fulfilled under divine guidance.

International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran. Social Media / WANA News Agency

This year’s conference coincides with the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and carries the theme “The Prophet of Mercy and the Islamic Ummah.” The program includes the unveiling of analytical publications, the reading of messages from senior religious authorities, international and national forums for women, and special sessions with domestic scholars among the 210 participants from across Iran.

More than 80 distinguished figures—including senior advisors to heads of state, grand muftis, deputy ministers, leaders of major Islamic organizations, party leaders, and former prime ministers from Muslim countries—are participating as international guests.

Alongside in-person sessions, the conference also features online webinars with contributions from both Iranian and international scholars, broadcast live through the official conference platform.

International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Papers presented at the 39th conference address a wide range of topics, including: the concept of Islamic unity in the teachings of the Prophet, the Prophet of Mercy and the formation of a unified Islamic Ummah, identity and challenges of Muslim unity in the contemporary era, the role of scholars and religious institutions in preserving unity, the impact of unity on economic resilience and cooperation, the Prophet’s teachings on peace, security, dignity and strength, governance in the Islamic Ummah, and the Prophet’s approach to war, peace, and resistance against enemies.

The International Islamic Unity Conference is held annually with the goal of fostering solidarity among Muslims, encouraging dialogue between scholars and intellectuals, and exploring practical solutions to strengthen unity and address the challenges facing the Muslim world.

The event coincides with Unity Week, first declared by Imam Khomeini after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Each year, Unity Week begins on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal—the date of the Prophet’s birth according to Sunni tradition—and continues until the 17th of Rabi al-Awwal, observed as the Prophet’s birthday in Shia tradition. This year, it falls between September 5–10.

Message of Islamic Unity Featured on New Vali-Asr Square Mural in Tehran. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Masoud Pezeshkian: Unity Is the Key to Muslim Victory

At the 39th International Islamic Unity Conference, Masoud Pezeshkian described unity as the key to the success of Muslims. Emphasizing that Muslims must act as a single hand and strengthen cohesion among themselves, he stated: “If Muslims stand united and avoid division and discord, the Zionists will never be able to commit these crimes in Gaza and other countries in the region.”

Expressing regret over the existing divisions among Muslims, Pezeshkian added: “If the Islamic community were united, neither Israel nor the United States would dare to challenge us or violate our rights. The problem lies with us, not Israel or the U.S. The main issue is the internal divisions and disagreements among us. We must start with ourselves and implement in practice the unity and cohesion advocated by the Prophet.”

Referring to how even the smallest actions in Muslim societies are misrepresented by the West, he said: “They accuse us of violating human rights, yet their own policies show no mercy to children, women, or the elderly—they engage in genocide. They have no sense of humanity, but our problem is our divisions. They exploit these divisions to sell their weapons to Islamic countries.”

Pezeshkian at 39th International Islamic Unity Conference. Social media / WANA News Agency

The President stressed: “We are brothers with Iraqis, Palestinians, Egyptians, and all Muslims worldwide. We pledge brotherhood and practice it in action, not just in words. If this belief takes hold within the Islamic community, the U.S. and Israel will not be able to sow division and discord among us.”

Referring to the 12-day conflict waged by the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran, he continued: “The U.S. and Israel could not achieve their malicious goals in Iran because of our unity and cohesion. It is true that we had missiles, strong and brave fighters who struck the enemy hard, but the strongest blow came from the unity and cohesion of the Islamic community, which disappointed them.”

Pezeshkian also expressed appreciation for Islamic countries taking firm stances against the Israeli regime, adding: “We value the condemnation of Israel’s crimes by Muslim countries, but this is not enough. We must stand stronger, firmer, and more united. Only as a united front can we achieve dignity and honor. It is a heavy responsibility on all of us, including religious scholars, to bring honor and pride to the Islamic community.”

Concluding his remarks, Pezeshkian stated: “This gathering marks the beginning of breaking the walls of division and fostering unity and brotherhood, as instructed by the Prophet in Mecca and Medina. We hope that God grants us the ability, through unity and cohesion, to confront aggression, crime, barbarism, and the so-called civilized world that acts with brutality, spreading the message of truth, justice, an d fairness.”