The revered source of emulation on the eve of the New Year advised the people of the nation to be present at home and to avoid unnecessary travel and to adhere to health instructions. RNA – Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi issued an important statement on the eve of Norouz (the Iranian new year) and emphasized the need for everyone to pay attention to health instructions and avoid unnecessary travel.
In a message addressed to the Iranian people, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi urged the public to stay at home in order to protect their health and that of others and officials also must help the people fight this virus through scientific methods and unceasing efforts.
The text of Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi’s statement is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
The great people of Iran:
At a time when our people were struggling for the beginning of the new year and preparing to visit their families, a universal epidemic tribulation deprived everyone of their peace. In these special circumstances, I invite all of you loved ones to pay close attention to the danger of this disease by maintaining complete patience.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifice and dedication of the medical and nursing community and other health care workers, the military and law enforcement and public assistants who are undaunted by death. I call on all of the beloved people to pay special attention to all the requests made by the health authorities, including staying at home and avoiding any unnecessary travel. I also call on the respected authorities to help the people of the country (especially in the heavily afflicted provinces) through unceasing efforts and by adopting scientific methods.
Our dear people, by praying to God and seeking forgiveness, resorting and supplicating on the eve of the new year, especially on the last night of Friday of the year, hope to be with the grace of God and the favour of the Imam of the Time (may God hasten his reappearance).
In conclusion, by supplicating and praying to the God Almighty and resorting to the pure souls of the Infallibles, I pray for the removal and elimination of this tribulation.
May the peace and mercy of God be upon you,
Naser Makarem-Shirazi
March 18, 2020
Rasa News Agency
112/979