RNA - The full text of the message published on AhluBayt News Agency is as follows:
A pious scientist, thinker and mujahid scholar "Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Mahdi Asefi" after a lifetime of jihad and ijtihad, joined the divine mercy; a wise scholar whose life was full of scientific, intellectual, cultural, social and political activities for promoting the teachings of Quran and Ahlulbayt (AS).
He came from a family of science and jurisprudence and was educated in both seminary and university. He was the student of the big scholars such as "Allama Mohammad Muzaffar", Grand Ayatollahs "Khoei", "Hakim", "Mirza Hashim Ameli" and "Imam Khomeini". So many books of him were translated in many different languages.
His scientific work did not prevent him from participating in social and political activities. So he was a member of "al-Da'wa Party" in Iraq and had a dangerous confrontation with the criminal Baath Party of Iraq.
By the first spark of Iran's Islamic Revolution he reached "Neauphle-le-Chateau" and paid his allegiance to Imam Khomeini (AS).
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution and the invasion of Iraq to Iran, Ayatollah Asefi was at the front lines of the war and was among the Iraqi fighters of "Badr Corps"(who were fighting for Iran) to keep their spirits up; as in recent periods he was encouraging the defenders of the shrines in fighting against ISIS terrorists.
He had a sense of responsibility about the events in the Islamic world; so he wrote some letters to the Wahhabi scholars for defending Islam, the Prophet and the teachings of Ahlulbayt (AS). Also his supports of the oppressed Palestinians and the Resistance will remain in the memories.
After the demise of Imam Khomeini (RA), he became the representative of Imam Khamenei in Najaf.
Since the establishment of the Ahlulbayt (AS) World Assembly he was a member of its supreme council. Also he was the secretary general of the assembly for two years and was the head of the Ahlulbayt Local Assembly in Iraq until his death. He had hundreds of missionary activities and the way of handling the affairs of libraries and religious centers were under his monitoring.
His unique asceticism and extensive charitable activities were the most important aspects of his life. Hundreds of thousands of poor Iraqi and Afghan families and orphans were living under his efforts or became homeowners.
The Ahlulbayt(AS) World Assembly sends its condolence to the Imam Zaman (AS), the Supreme Leader of Iran, Grand Ayatollahs and seminaries over the demise of this great scholar and praying for the patience of all survivors.
The Ahlulbayt (AS) World Assembly
04/06/2015
R111/108/C/