RNA – Speaking during his jurisprudence class at Qom’s Grand Mosque, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi reacted to the Saudi authorities’ “sabotage” over the issue of sending Iranians to the Hajj pilgrimage, saying: “When our Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and officials saw that the Saudis are using various excuses to impose a series of conditions, they refused to participate in the Hajj.”
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi noted: “Saudis are seeking revenge [against Iran] for their defeat in Iraq, Syria and Yemen and for this reason, they have turned the Hajj into a political issue.”
The teacher in the Islamic Seminary of Qom added that the Friday prayer leaders of Makkah and Madinah and [Wahhabi] muftis have spread so much propaganda against Shi’as and have fanned the flames of Shiaphobia in their sermons.
“This is a dangerous issue and the people must understand the risks,” he said.
He added that the Two Holy Shrines should be administered under the supervision of a group of scholars and should not be the personal property of the House of Saud.
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said: “We have unfortunately witnessed very sad events during the Hajj and many Muslims have been killed and this problem is not limited to the events of last year.”
In other remarks, His Eminence referred to the holy month of Ramadan which begins next week, saying this month is a great opportunity for religious proselytization and recommended taking maximum advantage of the opportunities this month offers.
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi insisted that Islam stands for material and spiritual revival and called on scholars to strive to provide guidance for society, especially the younger generation who are the most at risk and harm and on the other hand, the path of guidance is also easier and greater.
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