RNA – In his remarks prior to Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, called the Ahlul-Bayt “a blessing of God Almighty contrasting that with disunity as a punishment.”
The secretary-general of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought referred to hadiths which call the leadership of Prophet Muhammad and Imamate as perfect blessings from God which joins the members of a community and contrasted this with division and aggression, saying it is a symbol of punishment whenever it plagues a society.
The cleric alluded to a quote by Prophet Muhammad comparing the Imams with stars which are the guiding lights for people and a guarantee for solidarity of the Muslims.
Ayatollah Araki counted the upcoming Arba’in ceremony, which marks the fortieth day after martyrdom of Imam Husayn, the third Shi’ah Imam and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and hailed the two-week pilgrimage by millions of pilgrims as a unique instance in the history of mankind.
He said, “The Ahlul-Bayt are the bases of Islamic solidarity” and noted “it is a miracle when the whole ummah is in full cooperation with each other.”
Ayatollah Araki expressed hope that Imam Husayn becomes a commonality for all Muslims.
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