Imam Khomeini presented an exceptional model of political independence in the Islamic world

Sheikh Ghazi Hunina made the remarks in an interview conducted in the wake of the 37^th passing anniversary of the late Imam, Taqrib News Agency (TNA) reported IQNA.

He said Imam Khomeini was a comprehensive figure in terms of concepts, ideas, vision, methodology, and planning.

He noted that the Imam was courageous and steadfast in his positions, clear-sighted in his vision, and fully aware of the implications of developments in Iran, the region, and the wider world.

Commenting on the political character of the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Sheikh Hunina recalled one of the late Imam’s well-known statements: “Even if America were to present a plan that is one hundred percent Islamic and humanitarian, we would not believe that it intends to take a step in favor of peace or our interests.”

At the regional level, he said, Imam Khomeini viewed the Palestinian issue with great precision and attention, considering it the central cause through which the Islamic nation could be revitalized across the Arab region and the broader Muslim world.

Discussing Imam Khomeini’s influence within Iran, Sheikh Hunina noted that the late Imam focused on unity, social cohesion, and the Islamic identity of the Iranian people. He believed that Islam was the means of salvation for the nation and the solution to its problems. According to Hunina, Imam Khomeini advocated an authentic and enlightened understanding of Islam that respected the characteristics and rights of all segments of Iranian society, including religious minorities such as Jews, Zoroastrians, and Christians.

He added that the Imam’s stance received significant admiration and acceptance, particularly in Lebanon, where society was characterized by an open and dynamic media, political, and intellectual environment. As a result, Islamic movements across the region in general, and in Lebanon in particular, were influenced by his ideas and attracted to the political vision of the revolutionary leader.

Sheikh Hunina stressed that Imam Khomeini attached paramount importance to unity, viewing Islamic unity as a divine command.

The senior Lebanese scholar explained that, based on both religious principles and the practical necessity of preserving the unity of the Muslim community, Imam Khomeini advanced the concept of Islamic unity through the designation of the period between the 12th and 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal as “Islamic Unity Week.” This initiative took into account the differing Sunni and Shia views regarding the date of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birth and sought to bring them together under the banner of Islamic unity.

He noted that this initiative emerged amid the political, intellectual, and cultural transformations of the time. Given the constant changes affecting the region, many Muslims began embracing the concept of Islamic unity from that period onward.

The Lebanese scholar concluded that today a significant level of understanding regarding Islamic unity and convergence can be observed on a broader scale. He pointed out that this is also reflected in the concept of the “Unity of Fronts” among Islamic resistance movements.

“The concept of Islamic unity envisioned by Imam Khomeini, rooted in the Holy Qur’an and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad, is today widely recognized within the Islamic Ummah and remains urgently needed for both our present and our future,” he said.