AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On Saturday, April 29, 2023, in a speech for the staff of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Qom, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani stated, “All Islamic denominations confirm the scientific and spiritual authority of Imams (a.s.), and all Sunni ulama have always emphasized the scientific and spiritual greatness of the Imams (a.s.), and the discord was only about their political authority.
Denouncing the demolition of Imams’ graves in Al-Baqi Cemetery by Wahhabis, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “Extremism emerges and is realized if it relies on power. The power that the House of Saud gained in the Arabian Peninsula, and the division of labor that was done in religious and power matters, caused this unfortunate event.
“People like Ibn Taymiyyah had extreme thoughts on issues of recourse and destroying graves. But in Sunni books, there are many things about the necessity of recourse, and Sunni ulama believe in recourse to divine saints and figures who have a spiritual status,” he continued.
Stating that the demolition of the graves of Imams (a.s.) in Al-Baqi Cemetery wounded not only the hearts of Shiites but the hearts of all Muslims, Ayatollah Ramazani added, “Shawwal 8, the anniversary of the demolition of the blessed Imam’s graves in Al-Baqi Cemetery by the Wahhabis, is a bitter day. After the demolition of Al-Baqi, the Wahhabis went towards Karbala to do what did in Al-Baqi in Karbala, but they faced resistance from the Shiites and did not achieve their goal. Such unfortunate events also happened during the time of Imams (a.s.). For example, Mutawakkil Abbasi wanted to destroy the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.). But, “يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ” (They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light though the faithless should be averse.) (Holy Quran, Suraj: As-Saff, Verse: 8),”
Regarding the need to rebuild the shrine of Imams in Al-Baqi Cemetery, he said, “In the Indian subcontinent, signatures have been collected for the reconstruction of the Al-Baqi shrine. This is a reasonable request that the Saudi government should accept. In this regard, the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly can take persuasive measures. Because we have a duty to introduce Imams (a.s.) to humanity.”
Further in his speech, addressing the staff of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the Secretary-General emphasized, “On religious occasions, by holding programs in the prayer halls of the Assembly buildings in Qom and Tehran, we should express our respect to the Infallibles (a.s.). Also, it is necessary to hold the congregational prayer in a magnificent manner and to increase empathy and synergy between the staff. Because increasing empathy and synergy is a sign of community life.”
At the end of his speech, while expressing his gratitude to Hojjat al-Islam Al Ayub, who was the imam of the prayer hall of the administration building in Qom, Ayatollah Ramezani appointed Hojat al-Islam Rezaei, one of the researchers of Wiki Shia, as the imam of the prayer hall of the administration building in Qom.
At the end of his speech, while expressing his gratitude to Hojat al-Islam Al-e Ayub, who was the imam of the prayer hall of the Assembly, Qom branch, Ayatollah Ramazani appointed Hojat al-Islam Rezaei, one of the researchers of WikiShia, as the imam of the prayer hall of Qom.
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