AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On Wednesday, September 27, 2023, the members of the I’tikaf Headquarters met with Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, the General Secretary of the Assembly, at the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Qom.
Regarding the importance of believing in hadiths, Ayatollah Ramazani said, “In today’s class, I told the clergy that we should not lose faith in hadiths. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) says: “مَن تَفَقَّهَ في دِينِ اللّه ِ كَفاهُ اللّه ُ هَمَّهُ و رَزَقَهُ مِن حَيثُ لا يَحتَسِبُ” (Whoever strives to learn and understand God’s religion [Islam], God will provide for his needs and sustenance from where he does not expect.” Unfortunately, this belief has weakened among us, the clergy. The Arabic word “لا يَحتَسِبُ” in this sentence refers to the fact that “you, humans, do not have the ability to calculate where sustenance comes to you.” But we are still calculating.”
On the significance of spirituality and ethics in seminaries, Ayatollah Ramazani emphasized, “I’tikaf is a solitude that acquires meaning with the external manifestation. Islam does not accept just staying in solitude and emphasizes the outward manifestation of deeds to show their effectiveness. Solitude leads to spiritual understanding for humans, and it can have important effects if processed.”
Referring to the importance of spreading spirituality in the world, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Spirituality should be authentic and international, not the kind of fake spirituality that some follow. Today, spirituality and mysticism without God have been spread, and some believe that “religion hinders communication with God” and even books and articles have been written about this, and debates have taken place on this issue. All these things are to separate religion and spirituality from God, which we are against.”
“We believe that religion is associated with spirituality, and spirituality only gains meaning through complete and absolute connection with the spiritual system and the metaphysical world. Man, due to his pure and spiritual Fitrah (human divine nature), tends towards spiritual matters. But some people are managing it and directing this pure tendency towards unoriginal things,” he further said.
Stressing the need to avoid government interference in I’tikaf, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Although the Islamic Republic of Iran is a government under the authority of Wali-e Faqih, the more popular I’tikaf and ceremonies like mourning ceremonies for AhlulBayt (a.s.) are, the more effective they are, and the less marginalized they are. Also, the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly is a non-governmental organization.”
“I’tikaf has no marginal issues, and provides a suitable platform for spirituality, even in Europe. When I was in Hamburg, we initiated the I’tikaf. In the second year of its holding, from 15 countries people came to participate in this ceremony,” he said about I’tikaf.
On the importance of the correct introduction of Islam, Ayatollah Ramazani said, “Sometimes a superficial look at Islam leads to shirking responsibilities. For example, a superficial look at the mourning for Imam Hussain (a.s.) has caused us to just cry for that Imam and not to step in line with the goals of his uprising. Basically, some people prefer communication with the martyred Imam over communication with the living Imam. Because communication with the Imam of the Time, Imam Mahdi (a.s.), brings responsibility and hardships.”
At the beginning of this meeting, Hojat al-Islam Sayed Alireza Tekiyei, head of the Central Headquarters of the I’tikaf of Iran, presented a report on the international activities of his organization and evaluated the results of the activities of this headquarters in countries such as Lebanon and Syria as positive.
Expressing his satisfaction with this meeting, he mentioned the forthcoming visit of the I’tikaf headquarters to Africa and asked the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly for a road map for the implementation of the I’tikaf program in the continent.
It is worth mentioning that in this meeting, there was a discussion and exchange of views about cooperation and constructive interaction between the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and the Central Headquarters of I’tikaf.
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