In social life, one should consider work and discipline as worship: Ayatollah Ramazani

News News of Secretary General

Saturday, 08 April 2023

Regarding the necessities of life in a group or community, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “When we are in a group or organization, we should experience co-existence in the work environment. Some are successful in personal life, prayer, worship, study, and discussion. But co-existence and living in a group requires practice.”

ABWA Official Website – The sixth session of the series of ethics courses titled Official Ethics was held on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at the meeting hall of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Qom, with a speech by Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary General, and attended by the managers and staff of this international organization.

In his speech, while offering congratulations on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Hassan Mujtaba (a.s.), Ayatollah Reza Ramazani said, “In the remaining days of Ramadan, we should benefit from the blessings of this holy month. We should benefit from the characteristics of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), especially Imam Hassan (a.s.) in propagating Islam.”

In preaching, we should learn from the patience of Imam Hassan (a.s.)

“A missionary must be patient to succeed in his activities,” he added, “Patience is evident in the life of Imam Hasan (a.s.), which is recorded in history. At that time, the conditions in Madinah were so poisonous that some called Imam Hasan (a.s.) the “humiliator of the Muslims” (!) and in some cases, some people came from the Levant and insulted that imam. But Imam Hasan Mujtaba’s conduct attracted people. Therefore, in preaching, we should learn from Imam’s patience.”

Regarding the necessities of life in a group or community, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “When we are in a group or organization, we should experience co-existence in the work environment. Some are successful in personal life, prayer, worship, study, and discussion. But co-existence and living in a group requires practice.”

While emphasizing the observance of discipline as a principle in group work, he added, “In his will, Imam Ali (a.s.) has expressed the most precise words and statements. He emphasizes attention to the Quran, orphans, prayer, and Zakat. The Imam emphasizes discipline along with piety. Personal discipline, discipline in work and family affairs, and discipline in governance are types of discipline. Imam Ali (a.s.) has mentioned discipline next to piety. This means that there is a close relationship between these two. In group life, it is very important to look at work and discipline as a form of worship.”

“It is important to attend congregational prayers in organizations,” the professor of higher levels of the seminary continued, “We must have a practical presence in groups and congregations. The congregational prayer can be one of the examples of visiting religious brothers, which also benefits us from divine reward. At the time of prayer, we do not want work. Rather, the staff should plan in such a way that the other works do not interfere with prayer time.”

The most important thing about Ramadan is the revelation of the Quran.

In another part of his speech, about the importance of fasting, he stated, “The most important thing about Ramadan is the revelation of the Quran. Fasting is one of the duties that we must perform in the month of Ramadan. God has made fasting obligatory for believers. But people who cannot fast, can benefit from other things in Ramadan, such as reading the Quran, inviting people to the Iftar ceremony, taking care of the poor, etc.”

On the motivations for fasting, Ayatollah Ramazani said, “The motivation of people to fast in Ramadan is different. Some do not have a specific intention in fasting, but they fast out of habit or to be with the crowd, or to maintain their reputation. The other group is looking for otherworldly rewards and fasts to reach heaven and avoid hellfire. Such people are traders and merchants and fast for heavenly blessings as a reward. Finally, there are people who fast only to please God. Fasting with this intention is the perfect form of fasting, and we should strive to achieve it.”

“Worship should be done with the intention of reaching closeness to God. Fasting is an exercise to make up for the faults of the year. Therefore, human faults are compensated by fasting. Also, fasting is for refining a person, distancing himself from vices, and adorning himself with virtues. The human heart becomes enlightened by fasting, and thus the ground is provided for the forgiveness of sins. Fasting brings divine satisfaction because Ramadan is the month of mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, a great job for a believer in this month is to reach divine mercy,” he added.

Regarding the physical and mental health that fasting brings, the professor of the higher levels of the seminary said, “According to a narration, fasting narrows and shrinks the intestine, sheds the flesh, and keeps a person away from the heat of hellfire. It is also stated in some hadiths that fasting makes a person remember the hereafter. Therefore, fasting can solve many material and spiritual problems of mankind. If a fasting person is thirsty and hungry, he will help others and spend the wealth, that God has given to man as a trust, for the needy. Therefore, in the month of Ramadan, we should take care and pay attention to the affairs of others.”

While pointing out the importance of sincerity, he stated, “We must test and evaluate our sincerity. The best person who can evaluate a person is himself. Of course, sometimes having a (God-) seeker master can guide a person in this regard. On the philosophy of fasting, Lady Fatimah Zahra said, “فَرَضَ اللّه ُ الصِّيامَ تَثبِيتا لِلإخلاصِ” (God made fasting obligatory for the stability and sincerity of the servants.)  Also, Imam Ali (a.s.) says in a statement, “God made fasting obligatory to test the sincerity of people.”

The good actions of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly should be strengthened and improved in terms of quality

In another part of his speech, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “In his speech at the beginning of the new Hijri Shamsi year in Mashhad, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, emphasized the importance of transformation. Supreme Leader said, “We must strengthen the works that have been good (from the past presidency terms), and on the other hand, we must diagnose and find complications for the works that are flawed. Also, people should not follow the path of false consumption, including in marriage. Consumerism has made life hard and difficult.”

Regarding the activities of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in the new year, he said, “Good works in the Assembly should be strengthened, and qualitatively improved. Also, the good activities of the past, including activities in ABNA, Wiki Shia, Al-Thaqalayn TV, Translation Office, etc., should be continued.  On the other hand, we need pathology in work. It is necessary to identify our weaknesses and seek to eliminate them and problems by having a plan.”

“The Department of Studies and Research of the Assembly, as well as the Department for Strategic Affairs, must provide a comprehensive report on the situation of Shiites all over the world. The Department of Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the Assembly, in addition to the activities of the Assembly, has taken good actions, such as the Naba application, Rahnama Portal, adding 12 languages to the WikiShia, Google Scholar, holding the Anwar Hedayat exhibition, etc. This Department needs to increase its activities in terms of quantity and quality in the new year and create transformation,” Ayatollah Ramazani continued.

Regarding other offices of the Scientific and Cultural Affairs Department of the Assembly, he said, “The activities of the Department of Education should be up-to-date and use expert and efficient people for training. Also, related textbooks should be updated. This year, the Department of Cultural Services and Publications of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly has a heavy task, and they have to finish the translation of 514 works. Also, the centers related to the Assembly should be strengthened and supported, and the center of the document should be arranged and organized.”

Further, on content production, the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly expressed, “In content production, we expect the Department of the Virtual Space to use expert staff. We need to reach a common understanding of what objective we want to achieve by working in the virtual space. In the WikiShia encyclopedia, no more languages will be added. It is necessary to strengthen the entries in terms of quantity and quality. In this regard, the capacities of other institutions should be used to produce content. The task and job of WikiShia are to create content in the form of entries according to the needs of the society and audience. It should also enter new topics.”

About ABNA News Agency’s plans for the new year, he said, “In ABNA News Agency, the production of news should increase. I am worried about news production. ABNA should use more specialized and expert staff because ABNA’s work is entirely specialized. The motivation of the current staff should be increased, and the experiences of the old staff should be used. Other programs of ABNA should include the following: interviews with Shiite thinkers, the introduction of active Shiite centers of the world, the necessity of ABNA being a source for other news websites, the introduction of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) to the elites of the world, strengthening and politicizing of news lines and strategies, the correct introduction of how to approach the of AhlulBayt (a.s.) school based on the rationality, spirituality, and justice. ABNA News Agency can be unique in reflecting the news of the Shiites.”

The Advisor to the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly on seminary and clergy affairs was appointed

In the final part of his speech, while expressing gratitude and appreciation to Hojat al-Islam Abdullah Tavana as the head of the Department of Studies and Research of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, Ayatollah Ramazani stated, “One of the weaknesses of the Office of the Secretary-General, was the communication with the seminary and the clerics inside and outside the country. Therefore, we were looking for someone who is experienced in this regard. Therefore, considering the knowledge we had about the capabilities of Hojat al-Islam Tavana, we asked him to accept this responsibility and he accepted.”

In the end, the appointment order of Hojat al-Islam Tavana as the “Adviser of the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in the affairs of seminaries and clerics” was read by Hojat al-Islam Dr. Farmanian.

The appointment order is as follows:

Dear Hojat al-Islam Abdullah Tavana

Considering your commitment and experience, hereby I appoint you as my advisor in seminary and clergy affairs. You are expected to have maximum planning and action in regular and purposeful communication with the offices of Marjas (the sources of emulation), seminary figures influential in the international arena, foreign seminary intellectuals living in Iran, and other influential seminary groups in the form of a coherent reflection of the Assembly’s activities, as well as obtaining ideas and points of view, while coordinating and synergizing with the Assembly departments.

Also, I need to express my thanks and appreciation for your diligent and sincere efforts as the head of the Department of Studies and Research Affairs.

Considering your qualifications, and by adopting a transformational approach, I wish you success in elevating and strengthening the lofty objectives of the Assembly.

I pray to Almighty God for your health, dignity, and success.

Reza Ramazani

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AhlulBayt (a_s_) World Assembly Ayatollah Ramazani