RNA – Speaking at the second annual conference “Celebration of the Glorious Clergy of the Province of Bushehr,” Ayatollah Abdonnabi Namazi spoke of the duties of the clergy in the modern era – especially since we are living in a time where we face an enemy who seeks to incite war between Muslim sects through various plots.
His Eminence pointed to the expansion of the Islamic seminaries in the southern province of Bushehr, stating that this expansion and the strengthened activities of the seminaries were necessary and important. He praised those responsible and called their efforts an “academic jihad” and hoped that the seminaries of the province continue to shine.
The Friday prayer leader of Kashan stated that if the scholars and clergy did not exist, the people would not know about Islam and the mission of all of God’s prophets would have been confined to the era of the Infallible Imams and their teachings would not have reached our era.
Ayatollah Namazi stated that the Islamic Revolution was an effect of the movement of Imam Husayn. He added that Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurisprudent) was not a religious commandment but rather, it is a rational commandment.
He also reminded that the religious scholars and clergy that they have the same responsibilities to propagate Islam as the prophets and imams did previously but this does not mean that they should be haughty in regard to this lofty status given to them.
In regard to the recent Takfiri phenomenon, His Eminence stated that throughout history, Islamic lands were subject to many invasions and incursions and they continue today. The enemies seek to suppress the Islamic Resistance in the region. He stated that the existence of a group of cruel unbelievers invading Muslims lands is nothing new.
He referred to the military invasions of Muslim countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran by the arrogant Western nations, saying that these powers have introduced plots as a pretext to make Muslims forget the issue of Palestine. “However,” Ayatollah Namazi stated, “the Palestinian issue is the frontline, and if this frontline is broken, they will attack other Muslim countries.”
Ayatollah Namazi also referred to the enemy’s cultural warfare on Muslim societies, stating that the scholars are on the frontline of this battle. “We [request] all clergy – both Sunni and Shi’ite – to embark on a mission of academic and cultural jihad to defend Islam and render the plots of the enemies futile,” he stressed.
He added that the recently held “World Congress on Extremist and Takfiri Movements in the View of Islamic Scholars” was a great initiative and emphasized that this great conference was a model which should be continued.
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