President Rouhani congratulates Muslim counterparts on Prophet’s birthday

President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday congratulated his counterparts in the Islamic world on the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him).

In separate messages to the heads of the Islamic states, President Rouhani expressed hope that those “who care about the Muslim Ummah and lovers of the Holy Prophet of Islam would pay due attention, more than ever, to the necessity of the Islamic unity.”

Now that the world of Islam is burning in the fire of extremism, provocative acts intend to trigger tribal and religious prejudice, and enemies of Islam are painting a distorted image of the holy prophet and Islam – which is a religion of peace – the Islamic unity is a must, the president stressed.

President Rouhani also hoped that true lovers of Islam would “pave the way for the spread of peace, justice, progress and spirituality among Muslim nations by following the morals of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his attitude which was based on tolerance.”

Muslims hold week-long celebrations worldwide – designated as the Islamic Unity Week – to mark the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Islamic Unity Week is marked between 12 and 17 of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. The occasion in which Muslims ponder on the fundamental call of unity according to the Holy Koran was initiated by the late Imam Khomeini following the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979.

Each year Muslims in Iran and other countries around the world celebrate the Islamic Unity Week, which has played an important role in bringing the various Islamic schools of thought on a single platform.