Ayatollah Bushehri:

“Due to Arba’in, people are asking about Imam Husayn”

Rasa – In an exclusive interview with Rasa News Agency, Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Hashem Hoseyni-Bushehri, the director of the Islamic Seminaries throughout Iran, spoke of the unique message of the Arba’in pilgrimage as millions of Shi’ites embark on a march to the Holy Shrine of Imam Husayn in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

News ID: 1800

Date: 12 December 2014 - 10:18

RNA – Referring to the message which the millions of pilgrims who are travelling on foot toward the Holy Shrine of Imam Husayn are showing the world, Ayatollah Bushehri stated: “It is clear that the presence of people from throughout the world are marching due to their love of Imam Husayn.”

He pointed to the verse “Surely (as for) those who believe and do good deeds for them will God bring about love,” [19:96] saying that it is possible that at one point in history men were oppressively martyred and the enemies imagined superiority and victory but the real victory belongs to the person who was killed in the way of God. Ayatollah Bushehri explained that Imam Husayn is an example of this verse as God places the love of Imam Husayn is the hearts of the people.

The revered scholar explained that preventing the plots of the enemies of the Ahlul-Bayt is one of the most important messages from the presence of millions of pilgrims in Karbala. “These pilgrims are not paying any attention to the threats made by [Takfiri] terrorist groups. By participating in this march, they are proving that they are willing to sacrifice their lives on the path of Imam Husayn.”

“The loving presence of people from all over the world [in Karbala], shows that the most important issue for goal-oriented people is to attain their desires and also proves that the threats of the enemies will not have even the slightest effect on those with high spiritual levels,” he added.

Ayatollah Bushehri stated that the Arba’in march has led to the strengthening and development of the culture of the Ahlul-Bayt. His Eminence explained that due to the unique nature of the Arba’in pilgrimage in the current era, many people throughout the world are asking about Imam Husayn and why is it that every year, millions of pilgrims filled with love, grieve and lament by beating their chests. This has created a sense of curiosity and is an important step in introducing the character of Imam Husayn and the Shi’ah school of thought.

He said that the threat of Takfiri groups such as ISIL does not have even the slightest effect on the determination of the Shi’ites and that historically the followers of the Ahlul-Bayt have been proven to be not afraid of any threat and to strongly adhere to the path of the Infallible Imams. During the time of the Abbasid caliph Mutawakkil, Shi’ites made pilgrimages to the shrines of the Imams, despite being aware of the threat of punishment.

Ayatollah Bushehri expressed that the media should not limited within the country, saying that if the message of this great march is broadcast to the entire world with correct analysis, we will witness the spread of the knowledge of the culture of Ahlul-Bayt.

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