پژوهشنامه حکمت و فلسفه اسلامی
سال ششم شماره 24 (زمستان 1386)

The present essay, firstly, discusses and examins the relationship between bethat (appointment of the prophet of Islam Muhammad(SAAS) as the last prophet by God) and mahdavism (to believe and follow Imam Mahdi’s worldwide justice rulership at the end of times) through the help of the Quranic verse: (…هوالذي ارسل رسوله بالهدي). Secondly, the existing link of the chain – ghadir – which relates be’that and mahdavism and also the relationship between be’that and Imam Mahdi’s government has been surveyed and fully explained through the famous Quranic verses “Wa’d” and “Ekmal”: (…وعدالله الذين آمنوا منكم) and (…اليوم اكملت لكم دينكم). After clarifying the different dimensions of the issue, the crucial and delicate role of be’ that, ghadir, mahdavism, and the worldwide government and their relationship with one anotter is well explained and clarified.

Union of Muslims is one of the most important issues of Islamic world. Through studying Islamic references, the holy Quran and especially The Prophet’s narrations in Fariqayn’s referenes, the importance, necessity and the effects of unity and Islamic union is explicitly made clear.The present survey has focused on the above-mentioned subject in five aspects: the bases of unity and Islamic union, the importance and necessity of Islamic union, factors and elements of union and discord, and the fruits and benefits of unity and Islamic union.

The Islamic consolidation and union [unity] –the name chosen for the year 1386 (Solar Hijrah) by the learned leader of Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khamene’ei, - is holding an elevated position in the words of Imam Ali (a) in the precious book ‘Nahj-al- Balaghah, and this position is so high that Amir –al- Mu’menin Ali (a) regards it as the Godly unique gift and favor and the most precious blessing of God. According to the statements of hadhrat Ali (a), this social and religious value has been fonnded on 'Towhid' (to believe in the oneness of God), 'Nabowwat' (to believe in the prophetic mission of Muhammad(SAAS) as the last prophet), and the holy Quran (The prophet’s everlasting miracle). The Islamic consolidation and unity will be established if the ruler and people observe one another’s rights.

One of the most important goals of Islam is creating Islamic comsolidation and union among Muslims. From Quran and narration’s point of view, abstaining from discord is as crucial and mandatory as establishing the union. 'Sirah' (the life method/practice) of the Infallible Imams and other great Islamic figures has always been on the basis of building and establishiry unity and shunning from discord.There exist at least three common principles among all Islamic sects: Towhid, Nabowwat, and Maad, which play a crucial and undeniable role in establishing and fortifying union and consolidation among Islamic nation. The threefold principles can evolve the socioty concerning materialistic, spiritual, mental, scientific, worldly and heavenly aspects, making the Islamic sects closer to the ambitions and expectations of the holy Quran and Islam.

The dispersed and divergent views of Muslims and their disturbed situation on one hand and the union of the west world against Islam on the other, necessitates Muslims to take advantages of the holy Quran to cure them of the pain and suffering of discord and disunity. Therefore, unity, which means the union of Muslims in choosing one and the same method to achieve the single unified goal to stand against their enemies, is considered as a vital and essential issue from Quran’s viewpoint; being stipulated that discord and disunity will result in nothing but degradation of the Muslims.

Based on the frequency of words application in Imam khomeini’s speech, the frequeutly–repeated terms such as 'Wahdat' (unity; union) and 'Ensejam – e Islami' (Islamic Union), are the most important key terms in foreign and Islamic international relations, in a way that, today Imam Khomeini is considered as the greatest proclaimer of Islamic union. However, the importaut subject in such issues will be restoring, reconstructing, revitalizing and organizing such terms in a fixed model besed on the theoretical bases of Imam Khomeini ‘s political thoughts.The present survey aims at extracting the theory of Islamic union from Imam Khomini ‘s speech and making it an example for others to follow.

Studying the history of Islam deeply and analytically, we come to the conclusion that unlike what two scholars of Ahl-e Sunnah have claimed, Imam Hossein’s movement has never taken place for the purpose of disunity and separation among Muslims, but on the reverse; it has concluded in the unity of Islamic society. At that time because of penetration of prementality [Jaheliyyat] period’s hatered, unity among Muslims had been so weakened that the term “Islamic society” or “Islamic Ummah (nation)” was hardly a proper term for such a situation.

National unity at the level of political figures and elites means the acceptance of differences of opinions in the process of people’s unity or confederation which is agreed by all to be labled as ‘red lines’ in political literature. The focal discussion of the present survey will be giving a definition of national unity or public union and also presenting the reasons of its lack among different Iranian fractions, parties, and sects after the Islamic revolution of Iran.

National unity or public union is a term or a concept which has been emphasized in all schools of thought and divine religions, and all humans know the society stability and authority to be dependent upon it. The holy Quran regarding the sameness and common points of human beings and the quality of their relationship in ordr to create and develop public unity names some samples such as world commuruty union, divine religions’ union, believers’ union, and family union. The holy Quran regards religious and spiritual aspects as the most effective elements in developing and preserving the unity in Islamic societies. The writer of the article struggles to define the concept of public union and traces its meaning in Quran, defining its concept from Quran's point of view.