Hujjat al-Islam Fadhlullah:

Self-flagellation undermines image of Ashura and Shi’ism

Rasa – The renowned Lebanese Shi’ah cleric said, “We must abide by the values of the mission of Ashura and strictly abstain from actions that undermine the image of Shi’ism and Ashura.”

News ID: 432714

Date: 27 September 2017 - 21:01

RNA – Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Imam Ali Mosque in al-Hawash in northern Lebanon, Hujjat al-Islam Sayyid Ali Fadhlullah, the Friday prayer leader of Beirut, said, “Ashura arrives through every year in order that we may commemorate and remember the sorrows and tragedies which demonstrate the meaning of heroism in the light of the position of Imam Husayn.”

Referring to the fact that Ashura has led to resistance against oppressive and false groups, the Lebanese Shi’ah cleric added, “The value of the commemoration of Ashura is to cleanse ourselves and our goals so that rights, justice and peaceful life are consolidated in the mind and heart and corruption in various fields is corrected.”

Hujjat al-Islam Fadhlullah said, “We commemorate Ashura to keep alive the beauty that Imam Husayn, his family and companions created. They have done their best to keep Islam free from corruption and tyranny. The values and meanings of Ashura are no different from Islamic values and slogans and Imam Husayn’s project was nothing but the project of the Prophet Muhammad.”

He criticized certain measures witnessed in the mourning ceremonies for Imam Husayn, “We must abide by the values of the mission of Ashura and strictly abstain from actions that undermine the image of Shi’ism and Ashura. Therefore, they should persist from issues such as self-flagellation, self-mutilation with razors, walking on fire and covering oneself in mud because such acts harm all Muslims throughout the world.”

His Eminence continued, “The scholars must stand against these actions which are distant from religion and values and we appreciate those who react to uncultured and uncivilized actions.”

Hujjat al-Islam Fadhlullah also reacted to the recent independence referendum in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and said, “The healing of the wounds caused by the war of sedition by restoring the Islam of unity and affection and preventing the realization of the conspiracies to divide Islamic countries is possible. Any separation and division will open the gates of divisiveness in the region.”

He added that in order to solve problems in Iraq, dialogue should be used to ensure that all unity is preserved and that all rights of all are guaranteed. “Dialogue is the best way to solve problems and misunderstandings, not separation,” he noted.

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