Missionaries must convey truth of Islam to hearts, souls of audience: Ayatollah Ramazani

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Saturday, 10 December 2022

The great conference of missionaries of South India was held in Alipur city with the speech of the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

ABWA Official Website – On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, the great conference of missionaries of South India was held in Alipur city with the speech of the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

In this conference, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani stated, “The people of Alipur love the AhlulBayt (a.s.), and among characteristics them are belif in the Islamic government and Revolution of Iran, as well as Velayat Faqih.”

“There is no greater trust than religion, and this religion has been entrusted to you (Islamic missionaries),” he added, “The late Ayatollah Bahjat once told me, “I entrust you to God, and God to you”. Missionaries should revive God in the hearts of people. In a hadith, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “قالُوا الحَوارِيّونَ لعيسى عليه السلام: يا رُوحَ اللّه ِ، فمَن نُجالِسُ إذا ؟ قالَ : مَن يُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللّه َ رُؤيَتُهُ، و يَزيدُ في عِلْمِكُم منطِقُهُ، و يُرَغِّبُكُم في الآخِرَةِ عَمَلُهُ” (The apostles of Jesus Christ (a.s.) asked him, “O Spirit of God! So, who should we have company with?” In reply, Jesus answered, “With someone whose company reminds you of God, whose words increase your knowledge, and whose actions incline you to the Hereafter.”)”

Regarding the history of some preachers in the propagation of Islam, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “Ayatollah Bahjat said that some preachers’ sermons were too lengthy. Sheikh Jafar Shushtari sometimes preached a page of sermon and at the end, some of the audience fainted. This means that preaching had a great influence.”

“The mission of the preacher is to convey the truth to the hearts and souls of the listeners,” he added, “According to the Quranic verse “وَمَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ” (and the Apostle’s duty is only to communicate in clear terms.) (Holy Quran, Surah: Al-Ankabut, Verse: 18), the meaning of “الْبَلَاغُ” is that the content of the divine word must be conveyed to the heart and soul of the audience. Therefore, the preacher and missionary can be influential in the society. People have a lot of trust in the clergy and respect them. Because the clerics are the guard of God’s religion.”

“According to the Quranic verse, “ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ” (Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and reason with them in the better way.) (Holy Quran, Surah: An-Nahl, Verse: 125), the alem’s duty is to invite people to the path of God. It is mentioned in the hadiths that sit with ulama and them questions. Therefore, the preacher must be devoted himself to God. The position of the preacher is not just memorizing words and expressing them on the pulpit as sermons. Rather, he should convey the truth of religion to the heart and soul of the audience. Because religion is a matter of Fitrah (human divine nature), and the missionary deals with people’s Fitrah, heart and soul. Therefore, people consider the alem (Islamic scholar) as the proof of God. On the other hand, in many hadiths, Imams (a.s.) have encouraged people to acquire and teach knowledge. The requirement of this relationship is the implementation of Islam in the heart of the preacher himself. If the preacher himself is a person of conduct, self-purification and Sharia, his speech will also be influential for the audience,” Ayatollah Ramazani said.

“Knowledge is not memorizing words, but it is the light. Ayatollah Javadi said, “The Prophet (p.b.u.h) trained his companions in such a way that they could acquire knowledge even at night”. While some people cannot learn while they are awake! One day after the morning prayer the Prophet (p.b.u.h) saw a young man with a pale face and tired eyes. Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked him, “How did you get to the morning?” He replied, “I achieve the certainty.” The Prophet asked, “What is the sign for your certainty?” The young man replied, “I see heaven and the people of heaven and hell and the people of hell.” The young man asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h) to pray for martyrdom in the way of God, and the Prophet (p.b.u.h) did so. He was martyred in one of the wars. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to train such companions who could acquire knowledge even at night,” he added.

“I repeatedly heard from Allameh Hasanzadeh Amoli that, “The Prophet (p.b.u.h) learned knowledge from God, then he himself became a teacher (for the mankind)”. Knowledge is light and not outward words. Therefore, the heart must be ready for it. Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “All containers will be filled, except the container of the heart”. The heart is Throne of God, and He is present there,” continued the professor of higher levels of the seminary.

Referring to the presence of Unvan Basri before Imam Sadeq (a.s.), he stated, “Unvan Basri was 94 years old. He had attended many classes, but he had not achieved what he wanted, the light. Therefore, he went to Medina, but Imam Sadiq (a.s.) did not accept him. Then, going to the tomb of the Prophet (p.b.u.h), he appealed to him so that the heart of his son, Imam Sadeq (a.s.), would be kind to him and accept him into his class. After his appeal, Imam Sadeq (a.s.) accepted him. Unvan Basri told Imam that he came to him to learn. Imam said, “But you have attended many classes!” Unvan Basri answered, “Yes, but I didn’t achieve what I was looking for.” Therefore, Imam Sadeq (a.s.) taught him in a detailed hadith, known as “Unvan Basri Hadith”. This hadith is very important. In such a way that Ayatollah Qazi Tabatabai had ordered his students to carry this hadith with them and study it every day. In this hadith, Imam Sadeq (a.s.) says, “لَیسَ الْعِلْمُ بِالتَّعَلُّمِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ نُورٌ یقَعُ فِی قَلْبِ مَنْ یرِیدُ اللهُ تَبَارَک وَ تَعَالَی أَنْ یهْدِیهُ” (Science and knowledge is not about learning, but it is a light in the heart of someone whom Almighty God wants to guide.” We should look for such a thing, and if such a knowledge is expressed in the sermons, it will be influential.”

“Paying attention and appealing to AhlulBayt (a.s.) is an essential part of acquiring knowledge,” the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly continued, “We should be close to AhlulBayt (a.s.), and love has a great effect on the path of learning knowledge. I had a meeting with Ayatollah Bahjat. He told me, “If someone is guided by you, it is better for you than whatever that the sun shed light on. Therefore, the position of missionaries is the position of prophets.”

“The late Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi used to say, “Learn Islam comprehensively, deeply and accurately, and introduce it comprehensively, accurately and deeply”. Islam has teachings in the individual and social sphere and is comprehensive. That’s why we say about Imam Mahdi (a.s.) that he will establish a government based on comprehensive justice,” he stated.

About the conspiracies of the enemies of Islam in the incomplete introduction of Islam, the professor of the higher levels of seminary stated, “In California, intellectuals said that Quranic verses related to Jihad should be put aside. Today, some introduce absolute peace from Islam, while others introduce violence and takfir. These are the two edges of the scissors to destroy Islam. There is fair and just peace, not an absolute peace so that lead us to make peace and normalize relations with the Zionists! Therefore, a price must be paid for a just and fair peace. In the Quranic verse, “لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ” (We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may observe right measure) (Holy Quran, Surah: Al-Hadid, Verse: 25), “الْقِسْطِ” means collective and social justice. But social justice requires payment. This verse follows, “وَأَنْزَلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ” (and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war). Here, “الْحَدِيدَ” (Iron) means resistance.”

“There is no absolute peace in Islam. The meaning of absolute peace is to be friends and make a pact with any oppressor tyrant! On the other hand, global colonialism created ISIS who say “Allah Akbar” and behead innocents! While the Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “I was sent for mercy”. Also, there are many verses about the Prophet’s mercy in the Quran. ISIS and Takfiris teach children to kill. ISIS and Wahhabism are made by the West,” he added.

In the end, Ayatollah Ramazani advised the missionaries, “Study before preaching and giving sermon, and avoid giving sermon without studying.” /345/

AhlulBayt (a_s_) World Assembly Ayatollah Ramazani Islam Missionaries