AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): To commemorate the late Sultan Al-Waezin Shirazi, one of the Mujahed Ulama, the conference “Awakeners 3” was held on February 28, 2022, in in the Ghadir Conference Hall in Qom by the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and related institutions.
Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, the Shiite Marja, sent a message to the conference as follows:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ (قرآن الکریم، سورة النحل، آية 125)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in a manner that is best” (Holy Quran, Surah: An-Nahl, Verse: 125)
Theology and beliefs are the most central knowledge for the holy seminaries. The need to address this esteemed knowledge, and the need for Ulama and scholars to pay attention to it, is obvious for anyone. Especially with the expansion of communication and increasing interactions with followers of other religions and denominations to explain the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school and remove doubts, this necessity has become more prominent. Also, preaching is one of the common techniques in theological seminaries, and the combination of that knowledge and this skill, is suitable means for disseminating pure Shiite Maaref and teachings.
One of the theologian preachers in our time was the late Hojat al-Islam Haj Sayed Mohammad Mousavi Shirazi, known as Saltan al-Waezin, whose 50th anniversary is now being commemorated.
Sultan al-Waezin was born in Tehran during the Qajar era to a high family, who had many services to the Islamic school and the nation. After his education in Tehran and Karbala, to benefit from the classes of scholars such as Sayed Ali Shahrestani, Sheikh Gholam Hossein Marandi, and Sheikh Musa Kermanshahi, with the establishment of the seminary of Qom by the late Grand Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi (r.a.), he migrated to the city. There he attended classes of figures such as Ayatollah Shahabadi. He had numerous permissions to narrate hadith from scholars and elders such as Ayatollah Haeri Yazdi, Ayatollah Tabatabai Gharavi Tabrizi, Ayatollah Agha Zia al-Din al-Iraqi, and Ayatollah Sheikh Abdullah Mamqani and others.
While engaged in sermons and pulpits and studied extensively, he became proficient in scientific discussion and research, especially in theological discussions, beliefs, and issues of difference between Islamic denominations. He became proficient in theology, Sects and Creeds, history, Rijal, Tafsir, hadith, and so on. Due to his extraordinary ability and abundant mastery in delivering powerful and meaningful sermons, which were accompanied by beautiful, attractive, and captivating expression, he is rightly called the Sultan al-Waezin (King of Preachers).
The late Sultan al-Waezin was peaceable, ambitious, and determined. He was very polite and chaste while being very eloquent and outspoken. He has a brilliant record in promoting the culture of debate, observing its scientific and logical etiquette.
The book “Peshawar Nights” contains his debates in Peshawar, Pakistan, and the book “The Redeemers”, which includes his regular debates with Sunni scholars and students studying in Tehran. The multiplicity of editions and translations of the book “Peshawar Nights” is due to the effectiveness of this valuable work. The late Sultan al-Waezin has written numerous other works, often on theological, ideological, and religious principles. It is very appropriate for relevant officials to publish his manuscripts, which are, of course, valuable, and useful, so that the society can benefit from these useful books.
This zealous pro-Velayat man did not tolerate negligence in Velayat matters, and always tried to keep the society strong in this field by narrating the hadiths, manners, and history of the leaders. Therefore, honoring the late Sultan al-Waezin is honoring the Velayat.
I cherish the memory of that wise preacher and precious theologian, and I pray for his mercy and forgiveness from God. I also recommend all Velayat lovers to read his valuable works. While appreciating the organizers of the conference in honor of the late Sultan al-Waezin, I pray for the felicity and well-being of all, by the grace of Imam Mahdi (a.s.).
Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you
Jafar Sobhani
Imam Sadeq (a.s.) Institute – Qom
Rajab 17, 1443 - February 19, 2022
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