RNA – In a meeting with children of martyrs from the Iran-Iraq War and the administrators of organizations which assist them, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi said that the children of the martyrs should use their abilities so that they can continue the path of their fathers and maintain the culture of martyrdom in society.
The revered source of emulation explained the rewards of martyrdom, quoting Imam Ali’s words from his sermon on jihad in Nahj al-Balaghah [The Peak of Eloquence]: “Surely, jihad is one of the doors of Paradise, which God has opened for His chief friends… Whoever abandons it, God covers him with the dress of disgrace and the clothes of distress.”
His Eminence said that jihad or struggle is a universal rule in nature and in the world and within man, there is a continuous struggle, adding: “Pathogens enter the human body through various means but God created white blood cells to fight against these pathogens and prevent disease in human beings.”
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stated that jihad and martyrdom follow each other.
“Paying tribute to the families of the martyrs recognizes the truth and institutionalizes the culture of martyrdom in society. The martyrs and the families of martyrs have extraordinary capacities that should and they should use these capacities and with their piety, they can bring the message of the martyrs to society,” he said.
His Eminence emphasized the need to revive the duty of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil in society, saying the families of the martyrs should be respected and are more successful in enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. One of the conditions of enjoining the good and forbidding the evil is the probability of its effect which more likely among the families of martyrs.
The professor in the Islamic Seminary of Qom said the families of the martyrs must be united and cooperate with each other as unity can prevent the influence of Satan.
In the current era, corruption is greater than in any other period and one of the reasons for the growth of corruption is the existence of satellite channels which spread moral corruption throughout the world.
“The enemies have realized that in order to defeat Shi’ites, and Muslims in general, they must influence their belief system,” the source of emulation explained.
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said that we should not be disappointed while performing our duties in this regard, adding that the duties of the scholars and the families of martyrs in the current era are greater than ever before because there is a greater potential to err in modern times. “We cannot adopt a passive state like in the past – this was a mistake. God Almighty has promised those who remain staunch Muslims victory,” he said.
His Eminence expressed his hope that the martyrs’ organizations can strive to accomplish their important work in response to corruption and to rely on God’s promises. He added that in order to advance their beneficial work, it also requires planning and human resources.
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