AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, who is visiting Ghana at the invitation of religious leaders in the West African country, met with Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharbutu, the Grand Mufti of Ghana.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ayatollah Ramazani conveyed the greetings of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution to the Grand Mufti and stated, “Today, we Muslims must stand closer together, and unity among the Islamic Ummah is essential. The concept of the Islamic Ummah is deeply significant. Unfortunately, some individuals resort to extremism and seek to sow division among Muslims, which is absolutely detrimental to the interests of the Islamic world. Ayatollah Khamenei has declared insulting the sanctities of other Islamic sects as forbidden. The more Muslims support one another around the world, the greater their strength will be.”
The Secretary-General warned that there are efforts underway to distort Islam, and added, “We are currently witnessing the emergence of ‘liberal Islam’. There are those who aim to suspend the rulings of Islamic Shariah, whereas the laws of Islam must always be preserved. The Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h) said in a hadith that a time will come when nothing will remain of Islam but its name, and of the Quran but its script. Islam lives through its divine laws, and both the Quran and the traditions of the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) must remain vibrant. We must approach Islamic teachings with depth and convey them accurately to the youth.”
Ayatollah Ramazani also stressed that some are trying to portray Islam as a religion of violence, saying, “Takfiri Islam is a fabrication of the enemies of Islam. We have come here to declare the importance of unity. We have a duty to properly introduce the AhlulBayt (a.s.), who are mentioned in the Quran: ‘إِنَّما یُرِیدُ اللَّهُ لِیُذْهِبَ عَنْکُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَیْتِ وَ یُطَهِّرَکُمْ تَطْهِیرا’ (Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification) (Holy Quran, 33:33).”
Following the meeting, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharbutu, the Grand Mufti of Ghana, affirmed Ayatollah Ramazani’s remarks and said, “The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) stated that the believers are like a solid structure, each part supporting the other. We Muslims are one body and must act as a single hand in order to strengthen the Islamic Ummah. God Almighty states in the Holy Quran, verse 46 of Surah Al-Anfal: ‘وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَا تَنَازَعُوا فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَاصْبِرُوا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ’ (And obey Allah and His Apostle, and do not dispute, or you will lose heart and your power will be gone. And be patient; indeed Allah is with the patient.)”
He went on to emphasize the need to strengthen unity among Muslims so that the Ummah may grow in strength. “Please convey my greetings to the people of Iran. I pray for your nation’s success and peace. I thank Ayatollah Ramazani for his presence here and hope this will not be the last visit. The doors of this country will always remain open to the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly,” the Grand Mufti concluded.
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