Ayatollah Akhtari expressed his condolences on the demise of Haj Mohammad Ali Watani

News News of the Members of the Supreme Council Statements and Messages

Wednesday, 14 December 2022

In a message, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly expressed his condolences on the demise of Haj Mohammad Ali Watani, one of the benefactors associated with the Assembly.

ABWA Official Website – In a message, Ayatollah Mohammad Hassan Akhtari, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.)  World Assembly and CEO of Ashura International Foundation expressed his condolences on the demise of Haj Mohammad Ali Watani, one of the pious and well-known managers of the country’s economy section.

In this message, while referring to some of the activities and moral virtues of the deceased, he stated, “Active presence in the Holy Defense (8-year imposed Iraq-Iran war), constant loyalty to the ideals of Imam Khomeini and the Supreme Leader, and verbal and actual support of these ideals were among the bright points of the blessed life of Haj Mohammad Ali Watani.”

The full text of the message of Ayatollah Akhtari is as follows:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

بَلَی مَنْ أسلَمَ وَجهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحسِنٌ فَلَهُ أجرُهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَلَا خَوفٌ عَلَیهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ یَحزَنُون (قرآن کریم، سوره بقره، آیه ۱۱۲)

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Certainly, whoever submits his will to Allah and is virtuous, he shall have his reward from his Lord, and they will have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Holy Quran, Surah: Al-Baqarah, Verse: 112)

The demise of the committed, expert, serving, sincere and diligent brother, the late Haj Mohammad Ali Watani, caused great grief and regret.

The dear deceased, who was my childhood friend and classmate, grew up in a religious family and had great love for Islam and great devotion to the clergy.

During the years of struggle against Shah’s tyrant rule, he was one of the youths who joined the movement of Imam Khomeini (r.a.) and by participating in revolutionary meetings, he struggled towards the achievement of the Revolution.

The late Watani, who was educated in management, commerce and economics, after the establishment of the holy system of the Islamic Republic of Iran served the people and the government by holding high banking and economic positions.

During the presidency of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and after that, he, who was a follower of the Imam and Supreme Leader, had continuous cooperation with the Housing Foundation of Islamic Revolution, Jihad of Construction, the Ministry of Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Industries, and the Executive Headquarters of Imam’s Directive, and as the managing director of Bank Mellat, he was a model for trustworthy and honest authorities.

Active presence in the Holy Defense (8-year imposed Iraq-Iran war), constant loyalty to the ideals of Imam Khomeini and the Supreme Leader, and verbal and actual support of these ideals were among the bright points of the blessed life of that blessed deceased.

The late Watani also helps the Shiites of the world by being an active member and participating in the economic commissions of the General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and continuously cooperating with the Ashura International Foundation.

Love and devotion to the Immaculate Imams (a.s.), sincere worship of God and appeal to the Infallibles (a.s.), Muraqabah, chastity and trustworthiness, constant Zikr (mention) of God, moral virtues, benevolence and service to others, and giving everything he could in the way of God, made him a pious person, and he finally joined God in the dawn worship while prostrating. He lived a good life and passed away with fame.

For the loss of that old friend, I offer my condolences to the people of Semnan and Sorkheh, his friends, colleagues and enthusiasts, his honorable family, especially his respected wife and children. For the deceased, I ask for mercy and forgiveness from Almighty God, and patience and peace for all relatives and bereaved family.

May God Almighty have mercy on him, and place him in His paradise

و انا لله و انا الیه راجعون

“Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him do we indeed return” (Holy Quran 2:156)

Mohammad Hassan Akhtari

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and

CEO of Ashura International Foundation

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Haj Mohammad Ali Watani, one of the well-known managers of Iran’s economy sector, and one of the benefactors associated with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, passed away at dawn on Sunday, December 11, 2022, after the morning prayer, while prostrating.

The late Watani was the CEO of Bank Mellat during the imposed war and the 1990s. Among the other positions he served were Vice President of the 15 Khordad Foundation, Vice President of the the Executive Headquarters of Imam’s Directive, Vice President of Saderat Bank, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ghadir Investment, Member of the Board of Directors of Darupakhsh, and Member of the Audit Committee of Arzesh Afarinan of Pasargad Group.

According to the old and new activists of the capital market, the numerous services of that well-known manager are valuable contributions to the capital and stock market of Iran.

His support for the youth in the mid-1990s is considered as one of his hundreds of valuable and memorable services during his tenure.

The deceased had an active and continuous role in attracting the opinions of philanthropists and wealthy benefactors to support the cultural programs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in different parts of the world. /345/