What follows is the full text of the speech by “Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Hasan Akhtari” the Secretary General of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s) World Assembly Addressing the guests:
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Assalamu alaikum
شهر رمضان الذی اُنزل فیه القرآن هُدیً للنّاس و بیّناتٍ من الهُدی و الفرقان
"The Month of Ramadan is that... in which the Quran was revealed as a guidance to people and clear proofs of the guidance and means of differentiation (between the truth and untruth)"
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I avail myself of this opportunity to welcome you honorable guests and participants in this gathering, especially distinguished ambassadors of Islamic countries, and express my gratitude for accepting our invitation to attend this banquet.
I further thank Almighty Allah Who graced us once more and gave us the opportunity to enter the blessed month of Ramadan, be present at His great feast, and receive His infinite mercy; and I am grateful to Allah that I'm here to meet you again as it was usual in previous years.
As you respected guests are aware, a number of instructions have been highlighted by the Holy Quran and our great religious leaders to be observed in this holy month. Among the most important points are establishing relations with Allah, asking His forgiveness, reciting and reflecting on the Holy Quran, purification of soul, interaction with other people, helping the poor and paying attention to the needy whether being Muslims or non-Muslims, and renewing the good tradition of feeding the fasting Muslims at Iftar tables.
I express hope that Allah, the All-Beneficent, shall grant us the chance to be good servants for Him, as He wishes us to be, in this holy month of revelation of Quran and the Night of Qadr.
Another subject that I would like to discuss with you dear friends is the current situation of Islamic states and our region.
All of us are witnessing what is going on in the Muslim World. Unfortunately we are witnessing how the fire of civil wars, turmoil, regional crisis, destruction, massacre, and sectarian conflict is fanned by foreign enemies and intensified by irrational, inhumane, and irreligious statements of a number of so-called Muslim Ulama. On the other hand, there are threats of military intervention by arrogant powers who are trying to divide Muslim countries and communities.
The whole mentioned procedure is exactly the same thing that the enemies of Islam have followed throughout the history. It is also the same threat that upright Muslim leaders and great dignitaries of Islamic World have always warned generations to be aware of.
Conditions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, the occupied Palestine, and recently Egypt are some examples. What do we see? Why is it so that such heartrending condition is prevailing in our region among our communities? Where is the root of the crisis and who are behind the scene? Who are the losers and winners?
Is there still any doubt that dirty hands of U.S. authorities and illegitimate entity of Israel are working behind all these atrocities and crimes by creating clashes, providing financial assistance, and dispatching logistics and ammunitions to terrorists?
We and you in Islamic countries observe dangerous tragedies, genocide, and ethnic or religious conflicts on a daily basis. Who is really responsible for all these unjust bloodsheds?
Is there really no solution? Isn't is possible for we and you to solve such problems without interference of strangers and enemies of Islam? We saw the foreign forces' interference in Iraq and Afghanistan on the excuse of combating terrorism and dictator regimes whose result was nothing but destruction of all infrastructures.
In Egypt, too, the situation is the same. A nation, which had elected a new political system through a free referendum after 30 years of dictatorship, is now divided so dangerously that it is on the threshold of another civil war; and the whole story will cause the atrocious regime of Israel to rest peacefully.
During last year, the enemies of Islam tried their utmost to fuel religious, economic and political conflicts in Egypt to achieve their ominous goals.
A logical solution to Egypt's crisis was in the hands of Islamic states and their leaders. If they joined hands and exchanged ideas, they could find a key to creating a political and religious unity and national solidarity in that country in order to confront threats and conspiracies.
My suggestion here is to join hands to frustrate the plots of our enemies and condemn the irreligious fatwas (statements) of so-called Muslim scholars from any group or sect they may belong to.
At this stage we must take practical steps and heed the guidelines and advices of outstanding dignitaries and well-wishers of Islamic World to resolve the difficulties ..... We look forward to reaching that day.
At the end, once more I, on behalf of all members of the Ahlulbayt World Assembly's Supreme Council, appreciate your presence in this banquet.
We pray to Allah and seek His assistance to remove all difficulties and threats from all Muslim nations and to grant them glory and grandeur.
Thank you very much.
Wassalamu alaikum
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