Rasa – At the beginning of the Iranian new year, the source of emulation emphasized the necessity of avoiding formalities and luxury and said, “We must be resistant against the problems because the people are brave, resistant, enduring and lasting.” RNA – Speaking at the Holy Shrine of Lady Fatimah al-Ma’sumah in Qom, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi offered his congratulations to the honourable people of Iran on the beginning of the year of 1398 and expressed hope that this year will be a year of success and blessings for the noble nation of Iran.
The revered source of emulation also considered the coinciding of the Iranian new year with the birth anniversary of Imam Ali as a good omen and expressed his advice to the authorities and the people, saying, “We hope that the officials will work harder to solve the problems in the new year. The people must be more sincere and not think of themselves alone.”
He said that hoarding and embezzlement was a sign of weakening the foundations of faith and stated, “If we consider God has present and observing our actions and we believe in this important topic, we won’t do whatever it takes and our circumstances will be different.”
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stated that perseverance and patience against problems is one of the Quranic principles and one of the keys of happiness and human success and said, “We must resist the problems, especially the problems of the world today, where the global bullies seek to impose their domination on others.”
His Eminence said, “The enemies want to return to the Middle East, but this is a delusion. The enemies, because of the anger over these failures, are trying to hinder and create problems and we must be resistant against the problems because the people are brave, resistant, enduring and lasting.”
He noted, “Let’s start the new year with this Quranic instruction, end formalities and assist the needy and deprived families. Foreign travels must be reduced – we must not spend the country’s money abroad. We have sufficient entertainment centres and there are places for pilgrimage and tourism in the country.”
In conclusion, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi described and interpreted the special supplication for the new year: “Oh reformer of hearts and minds, Oh director of day and night, Oh transformer of conditions, change our conditions to the best in accordance with your will!” and prayed for the success and honour of the Islamic system and the people of Iran, especially the youth, and for the resolving of the problems of society.
Rasa News Agency
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