The statement, “Division is a deadly poison for the Muslim Ummah,” is often cited in discussions about unity. The question is: What exactly did Imam Khomeini say about disagreement and division?
-A review of the Dalil system indicates that Imam Khomeini’s statements and messages affirm this principle. He regarded disagreement and division as destructive forces that undermine the foundations of faith, strength, dignity, and the very survival of the Muslim community.
-In Imam Khomeini’s teachings, division is not merely a difference of opinion. He described it as a “kabireh-ye mowbeqeh” (a grave, spiritually ruinous sin) and warned that its spread breeds resentment, envy, hatred, hostility, and corruption within society.
- “When this devastating sin becomes widespread among a community, it gives rise to resentment, envy, hatred, and hostility, allowing the roots of corruption to take hold within it. It creates and nurtures a tree of hypocrisy and duplicity, fractures the unity and solidarity of society, and weakens the foundations of religion.”(Forty Hadith, p. 309)
- Imam Khomeini also drew attention to the social and political consequences of division. In his view, a return to the conditions of the past and the renewed domination of enemies are among the consequences of weakness and disunity.
- “If we show weakness, and if we do not cooperate with one another and preserve this unity of purpose … they will once again return us to our former condition, or to one even worse.” (Sahifeh-ye Imam, vol. 6, p. 241)
- In another message, he equated division, discord, weakness, and apathy with self-destruction and the squandering of the blood shed by martyrs.
- “Weakness and apathy at the present time, along with disagreement and disunity, amount to self-destruction and the wasting of the blood of the children of Islam.”(Sahifeh-ye Imam, vol. 4, p. 311)
- For Imam Khomeini, avoiding division was not merely a moral recommendation. He regarded unity as a vital necessity for preserving the dignity, strength, and very survival of the Muslim Ummah.