The Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom issued a statement in response to the Saudi newspaper’s insult against Ayatollah al-Sistani. RNA – The Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom reacted to the publication of a cartoon which insulted the revered religious authority Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in the Saudi-owned London-based daily “al-Sharq al-Awsat” newspaper.
The text of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom’s message is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
“Worldly life has been glamorized for the faithless…” [The Holy Quran 2:212]
The insulting and indecent act of the Saudi newspaper “al-Sharq al-Awsat” in insulting the High Shi’ah Authority (marja’ al-taqlid/source of emulation) in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, has caused regret and sorrow.
This despicable insult is, in fact, an insult to the religion and sanctities of Islam and demonstrates corruption and anti-religion.
While announcing their disgust toward the insults perpetrated by the Saudi mercenaries, the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom declares: The role of the Shi’ah religious authorities and Islamic scholars in protecting the religious and national identity of Iraq, as well as consolidating the political unity and solidarity of this nation plays a lasting and undeniable role in history.
With years of struggle against British colonialism and arrogance, the Shi’ah religious authority has strengthened the foundations of Iraq’s independence and freedom and the brave Iraqi nation has overcome crises through wise management. Meanwhile, the obligatory jihad fatwa of Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, which mobilized the people and strengthened the Islamic Resistance Axis in the fight against Daesh, is also of great importance.
The great Shi’ah authority is respected by the people and the sacred Islamic Seminaries throughout the Islamic world, and these irrational movements will not find fault with the sacred and luminous jurisdiction of the religious authority and will not extinguish their bright light. “…But God will perfect His light though the faithless should be averse” [61:8].
Muslim nations around the world will respond to this affront to morals by behaving in the manner of the righteous scholars and they will not fall into the trap of such sedition. However, it is necessary to follow the demands of the Iraqi people, Islamic scholars and sympathizers of the Islamic ummah in dealing with the insults to the religious authority, and the wrongdoers should be reprimanded.
May God protect the existence of the great and honourable religious authorities for the Iraqi nation and the Shi’ahs of the world and may the scholars of Islam and the reformed and vigilant jurists continue to be in the shadow of the attention of Imam al-Mahdi. God-willing.
May the peace, mercy and blessings of God be with you,
Mohammad Yazdi
Head of the Supreme Council of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom
Rasa News Agency
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