Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi in a meeting with Georgian Sunni Scholars:

Influence of Wahhabis in Islamic countries is worrisome

Rasa – Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said that hatred and discord is a fire destroys Islamic countries and emphasized the need for empathy and unity among scholars of the Islamic world and warned against the influence of Wahhabism among Muslims.

News ID: 426766

Date: 23 January 2017 - 23:28

RNA – During a meeting with a group of Sunni scholars from Georgia, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi expressed his satisfaction over meeting scholars from the small Caucasian country and addressing Mufti Beglar Kamashidze, the head of the Georgian Muslims Office, the revered Shi’ah source of emulation said, “We’re pleased with your comments about Shi’ah-Sunni unity in your country and it’s clear that Georgia is one the most advanced countries in regard to religion and it’s also clear that Shi’ahs and Sunnis, and even Christians, live together like brothers in Georgia.”

He stressed that we must be vigilant in regard to the influence of Wahhabism and similar groups saying, “If they gain influence, your religious and cultural work will be destroyed and God-willing, this unity will always remain and will be a model for all Muslims just as the Quran considers differences just as dangerous as earthquakes and lightning. Now if we look, we see there are many differences between Muslims in various countries and the fires of hatred are burning.”

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said that through unity and solidarity, Georgia has kept itself away from any religious strife and added, “Today, Islam has expanded rapidly in the world and if Muslims put their differences aside, without a doubt, Islam will be the future religion in the world.”

He added that exchanges, visits and meetings like this one must be repeated so that the enemies cannot create differences between Muslims.

Referring to the exemplary safety in Iran, the renowned source of emulation said that a group of French journalists came to him and said that what they have seen in Iran and that which they have heard in the media is completely different.

“In Iran, you see that there is no insecurity and therefore, we must visit and interact with each other that the enemies cannot create divisions between us,” he said.

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said that many books have been written about the Quran, hadiths and Muslims but the distribution of these books in Islamic countries has been weak. “We must transfer our experiences to each other together and you must be careful of your youths as the enemies spreads their influence through the youth,” he said.

His Eminence said if you look after your youth in your high schools, universities and other centres where the youth are active, you will not be threatened with any problems and added, “You must try to spread Islamic teachings to the people in your schools, universities and through television. If you have magazines, television networks or internet resources, you must develop them as through these means, many problems can be resolved.”

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi emphasized the need to make use all modern facilities for the propagation of Islam and said, “We hope that these meetings continue to increase and representatives of our country will travel to your country.”

112/930/470