Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi:

“Ignorance is the root of all moral corruption”

RNA - Citing verses and prophetic narrations, Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi stated that neglect and ignorance are the roots of all moral corruption. He added that neglect makes people worse than animals, and due to their actions, they will go to hell.

News ID: 1297

Date: 03 October 2014 - 18:38

RNA – In the first in a series of lectures on Islamic ethics of the new school year, Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, the head of the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute, said that if we look at the verses of the Holy Quran and at prophetic narrations, we will find that the root of all moral corruption is connected to one thing – ignorance.

The renowned member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom said that according to the Holy Quran, many human beings and jinns will end up in hell. This is because God gave them intellect, thinking and understanding, but they did not use these gifts correctly. The people are unaware they are like cattle or worse. Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi stated that animals do not go to hell because they lack of reason and duty, but that some human beings are like animals because they have neglected to perform their duties, thus they will end up in the hellfire.

Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi said that concepts like ignorance, forgetfulness and ignorance are emphasized in the Holy Quran. It is these concepts which cause man to become similar or worse than animals. If someone does not want be in the category of donkeys and dogs, he must rid himself of all negative attributes. He emphasized that “moderation in all things is a virtue,” and that moderation turns the extremes caused by vice into virtues.

His Eminence pointed out that awareness, wakefulness and alertness in the face of ignorance, arrogance and drunkenness are some of the themes used in the Quran and in narrations. He said that some people have lived for 80 years but have still not woken up and realized their ignorance. His Eminence stated that some people seek nothing except the enjoyment of this deceptive world and become so consumed by entertainment such as television series, movies and music that they become negligent and unaware of what is happening in the world. He advised that if man does not want to fall into neglect, he must be aware by gaining knowledge and wisdom as knowledge is a place of refuge.

In conclusion, Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi emphasized that Islam is a social religion. Prayers are intended to connect man to God, but Islam places great emphasis on congregational prayers because man’s relationship with others is very important to his spiritual health. A condition of one of the two parts of a Friday prayer sermon is that political and social issues must be mentioned, as well as advise on how to deal with other groups of people, both friends and foes.

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