Iran’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan:

Muslims of Caucasus consider revival of Islam as due to scholars

Rasa – After Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani’s departure from Azerbaijan following a five-day visit, Iran’s ambassador to the former Soviet republic explained that the Muslim people of the Caucasus region consider the revival of Islam as due to the activities of the sources of emulation and scholars of Islam.

News ID: 3299

Date: 06 September 2015 - 20:32

RNA – Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Nouri-Hamadani returned to Iran from his five-day visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan. He was officially escorted by the Tehran’s ambassador to Baku, Mohsen Pakayin and Allahshükür Hummat Pashazadeh, the head of the Administration of Muslims of the Caucasus and the country’s highest-ranking cleric.

After the Iranian source of emulation’s departure, Mohsen Pakayin told Rasa News that the Grand Ayatollah considered the trip a great and divine blessing and expressed his satisfaction with the hospitality of the good and sincere people and clergies of Azerbaijan.

He said that many great religious scholars and jurisprudents have lived and studied in various cities of the former Soviet republic but after the country’s independence in 1991, Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani was the first source of emulation that has visited them.

Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan noted the influential role of the sources of emulation and Shi’a religious leaders, especially the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, and the current Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, on the introduction of Islam to the world.

“The Shi’as of Azerbaijan have always had confidence in the sources of emulation and the clergy who have stood alongside them and provided great blessings and benefits for them,” he said.

Pakayin pointed to the brotherhood and friendship between the people of Azerbaijan and Iran and the development of political, cultural, economic relations in recent years. He added that the presence of Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani in Azerbaijan will strengthen the two countries’ mutual religious interactions.

“These two countries should recognize this opportunity and take advantage of the opportunities available for furthering religious activities, especially in strengthening Islamic unity and fighting against Islamophobia and Takfirism,” he said.

He explained that throughout history, the sources of emulation have been a religious and popular base against deviancy and added that Azerbaijani scholars and clerics have been fighting against anti-religious policies and Communism for many years and many have been martyred.

Pakayin explained that the Muslim people of the Caucasus region consider the revival of Islam as due to the activities of the sources of emulation and scholars of Islam. “For this reason, Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani’s visit to Azerbaijan holds a special significance for them,” he said.

Upon Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani’s arrival at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, Dr Abouzar Ebrahimi, the head of Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, welcomed His Eminence and his delegation.

In a short speech, Dr Ebrahimi stated that the warm welcome given to Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani by the Azerbaijani people was the largest cultural event and added that it led to unity and solidarity among Muslims of the country and brought them many spiritual effects.

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