Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Al-Karbalai, representative of Ayatollah Sistani and the general secretary of the Shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s) visits his eminence Ayatollah Sayid Sadiq Shirazi.
Showing posts with label Ayatullah Sistani. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ayatullah Sistani. Show all posts
Advice From Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Sistani
Advice from H.E. Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani – may God protect him – on the 40th day Visit to Imam Husain (pbuh)
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All praise is due to God, Lord of the Worlds. May peace and blessings shower upon our Master Muhammad and his pure progeny…
Indeed, the faithful blessed by God to make this honorable visit should reflect on the fact that God Almighty has made Prophets and Guardians out of some of His servants that they may be the examples and role models for people… That they may be the testimony (God has) for people. As such, people would then find guidance in their teachings and follow in their footsteps.
God Almighty encouraged people to visit their holy mausoleums, making their remembrance everlasting and elevating their status. He did so such that it may be a reminder for people, reminding them of God Almighty, of His teachings and of His laws. For, indeed, the Prophets and Guardians were the prime examples of devotion to God Almighty, of struggling in His Way, and of sacrifice for His upright religion.
It follows, therefore, that as well as remembering the sacrifices of Imam Husain (pbuh) in God’s Way, this visit entails the following:
Attentiveness to abiding by the teachings of the true religion, including prayer, the hijab, reconciliation, forgiveness, forbearance, good manners, the sanctity of the road, and all other virtuous meanings such that this visit may be – by God’s grace – a step toward building one’s character when it comes to these meanings, having effects which last until the upcoming visits and beyond. That way, presence in these visits becomes like presence in the gatherings of learning and character building at the hands of the Imam (pbuh).
Even though we have not witnessed the (physical) presence of the Imams of the Holy Household (pbut) such that we may learn from them and have our characters built at their hands, God did however preserve their teachings and (historic) positions for us… God did encourage us to visit their holy mausoleums… All such that they may be marked examples for us. In doing so, He tested the extent of our honesty when it comes to our hope of being in their presence and abiding by their teachings and admonitions, just as He tested those who lived with them and were in their presence. Hence, let us be careful for fear that our hope may be a dishonest wish in reality. Let us be conscious that if we are as they – peace and blessings be upon them – wanted us to be then hopefully we will be resurrected alongside those who witnessed (events) in their presence. For the following has been narrated: In the Battle of the Camel, the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh) said that, “Today, there were people present here with us who are still in the backs of men and the wombs of women.”
Those amongst us who are honest in their hopes do not find it difficult to act according to their teachings and to follow their lead, thus maintaining purity by their purification and discipline in their etiquettes.
So (be conscious of) God, (be conscious of) God, when it comes to prayer! For indeed, it is – as has been mentioned in the noble tradition – the pillar of the religion and (through it is) the ascension of the faithful. If it is accepted, all else is accepted. If it is rejected, all else is rejected. One should be committed to prayer at the very beginning of its time, for indeed the most beloved servants of God to Him are those quickest to answer the call to prayer. A faithful person should not turn away from prayer at the beginning of prayer time because of being busy with another act of devotion, for indeed prayer is the best act of devotion. It has been narrated that the Immaculate Ones (pbut) have said, “Our intercession does not extend to one who takes prayer lightly.”
It has also been narrated that Imam Husain (pbuh) cared so profoundly for prayer on the day of Ashura that he told the person who reminded him of prayer at the beginning of its time, “You reminded me of prayer, may God make you among those who pray.” He then prayed in the battlefield despite the intensity of the arrows (pouring down).
(Be conscious of) God, (be conscious of) God, when it comes to sincerity! For indeed, the value and blessing of a person’s action is to the extent of the sincerity to God Almighty in that person’s action. Indeed, God does not accept anything (with His special care and attention) other than that which is done purely for Him, free from seeking anyone other than Him.
Concerning the migration of the Muslims from Mecca to Medina, it has been narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hf) has said the following. Whoever migrates toward God and His Messenger then that person's migration is toward Him, and whoever migrates toward a worldly aim then that person's migration is toward it. Indeed, God multiplies the reward of the good deed according to the degree of sincerity a person has in doing it, reaching up to 700 times the reward, and God multiplies the reward for whomever He wishes.
Therefore, the visitors must abundantly remember God during their walk and be mindful of their sincerity in every step and good deed. Let them know that God Almighty has not bestowed any blessing upon His servants much like sincerity to Him in belief, word and action. Indeed, action without sincerity expires with the expiration of this world. As for action with sincerity to God Almighty, it lasts forever blessed in this world and beyond.
(Be conscious of) God, (be conscious of) God, when it comes to the veil, and the Hijab! For indeed, it is among the most important of that which the Holy Household – peace be upon them – cared for even in the harshest circumstances on the day of Karbala. They were the prime example in that regard. Out of all the acts carried out by their enemies, there was nothing that pained them much like they were pained by having the sanctity of their honorable (ladies) violated before the people. Therefore, all visitors, especially the faithful women, must abide by what chastity entails when it comes to their behavior, clothing and appearance. They should avoid anything that may taint (this representation of chastity) such as tight clothing, inappropriate mixing, and forbidden adornments. Rather, one should be attentive to abide by all of that to the utmost degree possible in order to safeguard this sacred ritual from unbefitting blemishes.
We ask God Almighty to elevate the status of the Chosen Prophet (pbuh&hf) and his pure, Holy Household – peace be upon them – in this world and the Hereafter for what they have sacrificed in the Way of God and struggled through to guide God's creatures. We ask Him to multiply His showers of peace and blessings upon them, just as He showered peace and blessings upon the Chosen Ones before them, especially Prophet Ibrahim and the progeny of Prophet Ibrahim. We also ask God Almighty to bless the visit of the visitors of Imam Husain (pbuh) and to accept it (with His special care and attention) in the best way that He accepts the good deeds of His righteous servants. That way, in their walk and their behavior throughout this visit and for the remainder of their lives, they will become an example for others. We ask Him to reward them well on behalf of the Holy Household of their Prophet – peace be upon them – for their allegiance to them, for following in their footsteps and for delivering their message. (With such reward, we hope) that they may be called up alongside them – peace be upon them – on the Day of Judgment when every people will be called up with their Imam. As for those amongst them who are martyrs on this path, we ask God to resurrect them alongside Imam Husain (pbuh) and his companions for sacrificing their lives and bearing oppression and persecution because of their allegiance. Indeed, God is Hearing, Responsive.
(Disclaimer: This is an unofficial translation. For the original Arabic, see http://www.sistani.org/arabic/qa/0529/page/2/)
- See more at: http://www.umaamerica.net/content/advice-grand-ayatullah-sayyid-ali-sistani#sthash.12Z0pdJ0.dpufGrand Ayatullah Sistani assures his rejections to hang his photos on public areas..
The office of the Supreme Religious Authority, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, assured once more his rejection to hang his photos on walls of public areas and governmental institutions.
Ayatollah Sistani's office reported in a statement directed to the Head of Najaf Provincial Council received by Iraq News Agency''We have noticed in few cases that the photos of the Supreme Religious Authority, Ali al-Sistani, are hanged on walls of some governmental institutions, such as your offices, and public areas, thus we would like to assure our pervious appeals not to hang the photos on walls of public areas.''
''We hope you to instruct the concerned sides to consider our appeal,'' the statement concluded.
Ayatollah Sistani's office reported in a statement directed to the Head of Najaf Provincial Council received by Iraq News Agency''We have noticed in few cases that the photos of the Supreme Religious Authority, Ali al-Sistani, are hanged on walls of some governmental institutions, such as your offices, and public areas, thus we would like to assure our pervious appeals not to hang the photos on walls of public areas.''
''We hope you to instruct the concerned sides to consider our appeal,'' the statement concluded.
Eminent Scholars who Rejects the Wilayat al-Faqih (Al Mutlaqa)
Fatwas of Ayatullah's on Wilayate Faqih
Statement of condemnation and denunciation of the heinous crime against the Scholar Martyr Shaykh Hassan Shehata
In The Name of Allah The Compassionate, Most Merciful.
((Surely [as for] those who persecute the believing men and the believing women, then do not repent, they shall have the chastisement of hell, and they shall have the chastisement of burning)) Holy Quran 85:10
(( And reckon not those who are slain in the way of Allah as dead; nay, they are alive and getting sustenance from their Lord)) Holy Quran 3:169
It is with deep grief and sorrow that Imam Ali (a.s.) Foundation in London received news of the tragic and painful crime that led to the death of the prominent Scholar Shaykh Hassan Shehata and fellow Shi’ites of Amirul-Momineen (a.s.) who were commemorating the blessed night of mid-Sha’ban in a peaceful spiritual atmosphere. At those very moments, the sanctity of their home was violated with fire, terrifying their wives and savagely killing them with unmatched brutality.
The loss of these innocent souls would not have been without the wave of sectarian and religious incitement coupled with overt fatwas of atonement against followers of Islamic faiths – all under the eerie silence of the authorities.
Whilst we ask the Almighty to bless the martyrs’ souls with his mercy and join them with Mohammad and his household (peace be upon them), we have no doubt that these pure blood will remain a beacon of splendour to illuminate the darkness of the lost truth of our days. Their persecution will remain alive in the consciousness of the free mind only to become a witness to the criminality of such Takfiri thoughts, which unfortunately have managed to infiltrate the centuries long fabric of tolerance and kindliness of Egyptian society.
Imam Ali (a.s.) Foundation hereby calls upon the Egyptian government and its security forces to assume their responsibility and to defend their citizens and appeals to religious scholars, especially the noble Al-Azhar and civil society institutions not to just make do with condemnation but to seek to extinguish the flame of strife and enact laws to protect national unity and criminalize hate speech, violence and incitement against other Islamic schools of thought and heavenly religions.
While we thank the noble Al-Azhar on its denunciation and condemnation of the awful crime, we regret its equating between the murderer and the murdered by saying that: “It is clear if Muslims meet by the sword then the murderer and the murdered are in hell.” Noting that the [martyred] group neither carried a sword nor a sharp instrument not even a stick to defend themselves with against such unprecedented barbaric and savage attack – as shown in the media. They were only commemorating the occasion of a blessed night with prayers and worship, beseeching the Almighty to forgive the believers’ faults and sins.
From our position of responsibility, we appeal to Muslims everywhere not to be dragged into this reckless sectarian attack issued by some wicked scholars (preachers of the sultans) who do not desire any good for Muslims, but harbour all the evil in their calls for disunity between one entity through provocative Takfiri fatwas in the interest of the enemies of Islam. We should therefore hold tight by the firm covenant of Allah and adopt His straight path.
((And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited..)) Holy Quran 3:103
((O you who believe! If you help [the cause] of Allah, He will help you and make firm you feet)) Holy Quran 47:7
May Allah, therefore have mercy upon you O Shaykh Hassan and your fellow believers and congratulations to you all on your martyrdom. May Allah join you with his prophet The Mustafa, his pure household and the righteous martyrs.
Imam Ali (a.s.) Foundation
15 Sha’ban 1434
25 June 2013
UN special envoy to Iraq met with grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, senior Shia leader
Martin Kobler, UN special envoy to Iraq met with grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, senior Iraqi Shia leader and said the UN supports the holy shrine of Imam Ali (AS), first Shia Imam and cousin of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to be registered in UNESCO World Heritage list.
Ban Ki-moon’s special envoy to Iraq referred to his different feelings in his visits to the holy city of Najaf and hailed the reconstruction projects around the Shia holy shrine.
He said the place has to be protected and honored by world communities and vowed to support the necessary measures for the holy place to join World Heritage list soon.
The UN representative and Ayatollah Sistani are said to have agreed on resolving the crisis in the country through dialogue and away from sectarian approach in political discourse.
An informed source revealed, Kobler visited Imam Ali shrine before heading meet with the al-Sistani.
Iraqi politicians welcome Ayatollah Sistani's plan
According to the report, the Ayatollah's plan is referred t as the roadmap for exit from the ongoing crisis in Iraq.
The plan asks for implementing the demands of the protesters, clearing the prisons and freeing the prisoners who have not been found guilty as a prelude for issuing a public acquaintance order, save for those whose hands are truly soaked in Iraqi citizens' blood.'
The said plan also asks for implementing comprehensive reforms in political and security foundations and lack of governance of a certain political faction in the country, as well as the participation of the entire political groups in political decision makings till holding the public elections in early 2014.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Sistani has in his plan considered the political and state circles as the responsible sources for the deterioration of conditions in Iraq and stressed that he would remain by the side of the Sunni Muslims till the materializing of their legitimate objectives.
The plan asks for implementing the demands of the protesters, clearing the prisons and freeing the prisoners who have not been found guilty as a prelude for issuing a public acquaintance order, save for those whose hands are truly soaked in Iraqi citizens' blood.'
The said plan also asks for implementing comprehensive reforms in political and security foundations and lack of governance of a certain political faction in the country, as well as the participation of the entire political groups in political decision makings till holding the public elections in early 2014.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Sistani has in his plan considered the political and state circles as the responsible sources for the deterioration of conditions in Iraq and stressed that he would remain by the side of the Sunni Muslims till the materializing of their legitimate objectives.
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