Rasa - Ayatollah Mohiyeddin Haeri-Shirazi, the representative of the people of Fars [province] in the Assembly of Experts, spoke about reason and ignorance as well as Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the P5+1.
His Eminence stated that the conflict between reason and ignorance is always ongoing and said: “Following ignorance leads mankind toward harm and adherence to reason is beneficial to man.”
Ayatollah Haeri-Shirazi said that in the Holy Quran, there are many examples of conflict between reason and ignorance. One of them is expressed by the words and actions of the prophets Moses and Joseph, who are clear examples of reason in contrast to the sayings and actions of the pharaoh and Zulaykhah, who are examples of ignorance and the following of selfish desires.
He added that the speech and behaviour of Imam Husayn and his companions are clear examples of rationality. His companions had a high degree of spiritual wisdom gained from following reason. Meanwhile, Yazid is an example of complete ignorance. His troops followed the example of complete ignorance by opposing an infallible imam in battle.
“By passing over ignorance, mankind can overcome their selfish desires and egos and can go forth on the proper path in their lives and attain a great spiritual life,” His Eminence explained.
Ayatollah Haeri-Shirazi said: “Unfortunately, some say that the holding of religious ceremonies are not based on wisdom and the love of Imam Husayn, but [rather] these ceremonies are held in whatever method we want. Meanwhile, [we say] that love originates in reason and love is meaningless without reason.”
The renowned scholar stated said that God is present in the hearts of the believers. When God wanted to harmonize the believer’s heart, the Ka’bah was built. When He wanted to grant the believer patience, the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) was built. And when He wanted to illustrate ignorance, the columns for the stoning of the devil ritual were built. By stoning the devil, mankind passes over ignorance and reaches complete reason.
The professor of ethics in the Islamic Seminary said that when the prophet Abraham took his son, Ishmael, to the place where he was to sacrifice him, Satan appeared in the form of a believing man and advised Abraham not to sacrifice his son. “Thus, man should not be deceived by someone’s outward appearance. Some wear the clothes of faith and piety but speak the words of Satan,” Ayatollah Haeri-Shirazi advised.
Ayatollah Haeri-Shirazi expressed that some ignorant people say that if there was no ignorance and only pure reason, man would not commit any sin or mistake and man would just worship God. “Meanwhile, the angels do have pure reason but they can never reach the high status of Abbas ibn Ali or other believing people. Those who follow their sense of reason can become close to God,” he stated.
“Imam Husayn and his companions gained the greatest profits and benefits in the tragedy of Karbala and gained a high level of spirituality,” His Eminence added.
In another part of his speech, Ayatollah Haeri-Shirazi emphasized upon the importance of Iran continuing its nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 group of countries. “The nuclear negotiations are necessary and vital for the Islamic Republic of Iran because they can [prove] the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the world,” he said.
The revered scholar expressed that naturally Iran has preferences in negotiations with European countries and it must benefit from them: “The nuclear negotiations were approved by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei] and he never agreed on anything that would be to the detriment of Iran.”
“Unfortunately, some websites claim that I am against these nuclear negotiations while I have never said anything in contradiction to the Supreme Leader or the system of the Islamic Republic,” Ayatollah Haeri-Shirazi concluded.
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