Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani:

“Destruction of holy sites is the greatest treason to Islam”

Rasa - Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani has said that the destruction of Islamic holy sites and monuments is one of the greatest betrayals in the history of Islam. He said that Muslims should not tolerate any indignity and disgrace to the holy shrine of the Prophet Muhammad (S).

News ID: 1083

Date: 06 September 2014 - 18:43

Rasa News Agency reports from Qom – Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpaygani has met with Hujjat al-Islam Ali Qazi-Askar, the representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei) for Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs. Hujjat al-Islam Qazi-Askar has reported on this years’ hajj situation.

Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani referred to the importance of the hajj pilgrimage, which is the largest religious pilgrimage in the world, saying the spiritual rituals of hajj and the presence of Iranian pilgrims there is very valuable and they should take advantage of this great spiritual opportunity and stop and appreciate the mystery of the hajj rites. The hajj is a religious duty which must be carried out at least once in lifetime by every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

His Eminence said that it is very sad and unfortunate that because of the brutal violence and crimes of Takfiri extremists, people who have never experienced Islam, do not consider Islam to be a religion of mercy and beauty. “The actions of the Takfiris are the greatest betrayal to Islam and humanity,” he stated.

In reference to a controversial plan which has emerged in Saudi Arabia to demolish the holy tomb of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and relocate his body to an anonymous grave in the Jannat al-Baqi’ cemetery, Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani stated that the desecration of the burial places of the prophets of Islam and the Infallible Imams (A), as well as the destruction of Islamic historical sites, is considered treason to Islam, which is a religion of light and mercy. “If we want to show Madinah to the world and say this is the city of the Prophet Muhammad (S) – the city in which divine revelation was revealed, the city where the Holy Prophet (S) and his loyal companions lived, we must protect its historical sites,” he stated.

He described these acts of indignity and disgrace as the cause of public hatred towards Muslims. The Prophet’s Mosque is considered holy to all Muslims. Muslims must be brave and courageous in the face of the Takfiri threats to Islamic heritage and should not tolerate even the slightest disrespect or disgrace to the holy shrines.

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