Rasa News Agency reports from Mashhad – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Hujjat al-Islam Kazem Seddighi, the temporary Friday prayer leader of Tehran, has expounded on the virtues of pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali ibn Musa ar-Ridha (A) in the city of Mashhad. On the 11th of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Qa’dah (September 7), Shi’ah Muslims around the world celebrated the birth anniversary of the eighth infallible and divinely appointed successor to the Prophet Muhammad (S).
His Eminence explained that when someone approaches the Holy Shrine of Imam ar-Ridha (A) and is about to greet the Imam, Imam ar-Ridha (A) himself says “salaam.” We have narrations which state that Imam ar-Ridha (A) is the heir to all the traits of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and therefore has a high position in front of God.
If someone does not have the correct intentions to make a pilgrimage to Imam ar-Ridha (A), they should not come. Pilgrimage should not be performed to show off ones wealth and not for any other reason except to gain the pleasure of God. Many people have access to every material and worldly wealth imaginable, but do not have the grace to visit Imam ar-Ridha (A). Their hands are tied because the Imam has not invited them. “The Holy Shrine of Imam ar-Ridha (A) is a place where someone goes to see their soul mate. Anyone who goes to the holy shrine has been invited by the Imam and the Imam has opened the gates for him. They are the Imams guests and he looks after them while they are in his presence,” Hujjat al-Islam Seddighi emphasized.
His Eminence said that the pilgrimage is an acceptance of Imam ar-Ridha’s (A) invitation and that pilgrimage breaks ones illusions and fantasies and joins one to the fountains of clear water which are connected to the drops of the ocean’s water and melt one into the existence of truth. Pilgrimage is to see the beauty of the truth of God Almighty. The divine shrine of the eighth Imam (A) mirrors the beauty of God. The master and the guardian of the universe is present there and whoever performs pilgrimage to Imam ar-Ridha (A) comes in the name of God and he can experience God’s grace and melt in this grace.
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