TEHRAN -- Scholars and prominent religious and cultural figures from across the Muslim world, including Palestine, Yemen, Lebanon, India, Tunisia and Iran’s Golestan Province, have underscored the pivotal role of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Ummah Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei (may God sanctify his noble soul), in strengthening Islamic unity and confronting global hegemonic powers.
The remarks came during the Second International Webinar entitled “Among the Believers Are Men Who Have Been True to Their Covenant with God” (Qur’an 33:23), which brought together scholars and intellectuals to examine the life, thought and far-reaching influence of the martyred Leader.
Sheikh Jihad Ezzeddine al-Saadi, head of the Noor al-Khair Association in Palestine, stressed that Muslim unity is an essential requirement for safeguarding the Islamic Ummah against discord, division and internal strife.
He described Palestine as a central and defining issue in the martyred Leader’s discourse, emphasizing that rapprochement among Islamic schools of thought should not entail disregarding jurisprudential differences. Rather, he said, it should provide a foundation for mutual respect, constructive engagement and collective action against common adversaries.
Seyyed Ahmad Abdulmalek, a cultural activist with Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, described the martyred Leader as a role model for freedom-seeking people around the world and an embodiment of the moral virtues exemplified by the Prophets.
Referring to his independence from positions and worldly privileges, as well as his sincerity and steadfastness in leadership, Abdulmalek said that Islamic unity is the key to the strength of the Muslim Ummah and the means through which the schemes of its adversaries can be thwarted. He also stressed the responsibility of Muslims to promote the martyred Leader’s ideas and teachings through social media platforms.
Sheikh Mustafa Mallass, head of Lebanon’s National Solidarity Gathering, highlighted the longstanding foundations of the martyred Leader’s commitment to Islamic unity, noting his role in transforming the concept of the Islamic Ummah into an inclusive and widely embraced discourse.
He further pointed to the Islamic Republic 
of Iran’s material and spiritual support for oppressed nations and its unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause as practical manifestations of this approach, which, he said, stands in opposition to the hegemonic policies pursued by the United States.
Hojjat al-Islam Janan Asghar Molaei, Friday prayer leader at Hilal Mosque in India, highlighted the martyred Leader’s practical efforts to establish the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought.
He said the Leader pursued the path of Islamic rapprochement with the aim of restoring the dignity, honor and rightful standing of the Muslim Ummah. Referring to his firm opposition to proposals by the United States that would undermine the Palestinian cause, Molaei stressed that people of faith must never trade their conscience and religious principles for material interests.
In another address, Hojjat al-Islam Noorali Deylam, director of the Islamic Centre of Golestan Province in northern Iran, underscored the necessity of unity between Shia and Sunni Muslims as a prerequisite for the realization of a new Islamic civilization.
He recalled the historic contribution of Islamic civilization to humanity’s scientific advancement, warning that Western powers seek to undermine Islam’s standing through division, discord and soft warfare. He emphasized that Muslims must set aside ethnic and sectarian differences and stand united against attempts to fragment Muslim countries.
The webinar also featured an analysis by Tunisian researcher and lecturer Zahabia al-Fahem, who examined the intellectual and educational framework underpinning the martyred Leader’s thought.
Emphasizing that social reform begins with the reform of the individual, she said his vision focused on nurturing individuals who are guided by a sense of mission, possess independence and maintain a strong national identity. 
Such individuals, she said, can serve as the cornerstone of a new Islamic civilization and stand firm in the face of the materialistic foundations of Western civilization.