RNA – In an exclusive interview with Rasa News Agency, Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Sayyed Hamid Jazayeri, the head of the department of Quranic Sciences at Qom’s Imam Khomeini Specialized University (a branch of al-Mustafa International University), explained the importance of protecting Islam religious values, especially the mourning rituals in memory of Imam Husayn.
Throughout history, these [Husayni] values have been under danger and the neglect of these issues has caused many opportunities and values to become a disadvantage to us. One of these Islamic values and causes which can help propagate pure Islam and culture in society are the mourning ceremonies. Imam Khomeini stated that during the months of Muharram and Safar, Islam comes alive.
One of the elements of protecting the religion and the victory of the Islamic Revolution is the strength of the morale of the soldiers and Basijis during the year-long Sacred Defence [Iran-Iraq War] were the mourning ceremonies for Imam Husayn. The strength and honour of the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in the remembrance of the tragedy of Karbala and mourning for the Master of the Martyrs [Imam Husayn].
Instead of using the issue of mourning properly and in the desirable methods, some people have taken it away from its original purpose and sometimes the mourning ceremonies resemble the ceremonies of the corrupt Umayyad caliphs which are very far from the sacred purpose of the Infallible Imams.
Mourning ceremonies should honour the virtues and merits of the Infallible Imams. We must be careful that our mourning ceremonies do not insult or humiliate Shi’ites and take them away from the truth and knowledge of Islam, especially in regard to the conditions we face today. The enemies of the Ahlul-Bayt seek to blacken and propagate a false image of Shi’ism to the world.
Hujjat al-Islam Jazayeri emphasized that the authorities must be careful to hold better mourning ceremonies. Clerics and elegists must use available the opportunities available during the mourning ceremonies to their full advantage to show the majesty, honour and beauty of Ashura.
He warned mourners that they should abstain from behaviour and actions which go against reason, narrations from the Ahlul-Bayt and the sayings of the scholars and sources of emulation. Just as people follow the regular rulings explained by the sources of emulation, they should observe the rulings of their source of emulation in regard to their rulings on proper mourning rituals and reflect on the global repercussions of their actions.
The clergy should also pay attention to the emotional aspects of the mourning ceremonies. They should speak from the pulpit with insight and should explain to their audience the reasons and motives for the uprising of Imam Husayn as well as the dimensions of wisdom in of the Imam’s great movement.
In regard to the role of the eulogists, Hujjat al-Islam Jazayeri warned that they must be careful to choose poems which have been taken from credible narrations.
At the end of the interview, Hujjat al-Islam Jazayeri expressed his hope that the mourning ceremonies are the path for the protection, stabilization, education and propagation of the wisdom of the Ahlul-Bayt and satisfies Imam al-Mahdi as well as the intentions of Ayatollah Khamenei in serving the people.
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