HIS EMINENCE VISITING AHLULBAITS’ HOLY SHRINE MUST BE A SCHOOL OF ETHICS WHICH CHANGES SOCIETY FOR BETTER

HIS EMINENCE VISITING AHLULBAITS’ HOLY SHRINE MUST BE A SCHOOL OF ETHICS WHICH CHANGES SOCIETY FOR BETTER

29/3/2020




Answering a question regarding the visitations of the holy shrines, especially the pilgrimage of Shabaan 15th ,  during the pandemic circumstances in Iraq and the curfew imposed by the authorities, his eminence issues the following fatwa:

To His Eminence the Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussein Al-Najafy (may Allah prolong his life), 

It is the advent of the great Shabaan; the time of the birth of the greatest personas in Islamic history. They are the Master of Martyrs Imam Hussein (PBUH), his brother the Master of the fighters for the sake of Allah Al-Aabbas (PBUH) and Al-Hussein’s son Imam Zainul Abideen Al-Sajjad (PBUH). In these days, the world has afflicted with Corona pandemic which will regrettably prevent us from having the honor of visiting Holy Karbala on these days as the authorities have prevent us in order for the virus not to spread out.  How would you advise us in such a situation, explaining the distinctive features of each Imam (PBUH) which we should benefited from? May Allah prolong your life to be like a father and mentor for us to guide us for the Mohammedi religion.

In the name of Allah, definitely, we are inspired by visiting the holy shrines of the imams (PBUH). So, believers, in each of Ahlulbaits’ (PBUH) anniversary like a birth or demise, should go to visit their tombs to be inspired by the Imam’s (PBUH) words and tradition as well as his sacrifice for religion. We know that the visitation texts are full of advice and directives such as “I bare witness that you have fought for the sake of Allah in the rightest way, worked according to Allah’s order, and followed the laws of Allah’s prophet (PBUH&HF)” and the like. Believers should not quit these pilgrimages, whether they are able to physically attend the shrine. If they are unable for certain reasons, believers are to visit the holy shrines from distance, imaging themselves inside the holy shrines of the Imams (PBUH), contemplating on the words of the text of the pilgrimage.

It is very unfortunate that most of those who intend to visit from near or far are concerned with their worldly and hereafter needs as if they knock on the door of the Imam (PBUH) to take from him and it is very rare to see someone who present himself and subjugate it for obeying him. Hence, we find few only who made full use of the visit. The visitor, whether far or near, has to pledge allegiance and vow to do it again. That is to say, he has determined that he presents himself again to obey him so that when he comes back, he has vowed to obey the imam. He must hold himself accountable after the visit. Has he changed himself clearly and vividly from what he was before the visit or not? If this did not happen, he has lost even if he has got what he wanted from his worldly needs. May Allah bless us with not missing the honor of visiting our imams (PBUH) and remain in the path of obeying them, blessed with the intercession of greatest Guardian of Allah, we may sacrifice him with our lives.

It should be noted that Allah distinguished the infallibles (PBUH) with merits for each of them because of certain circumstances surrounding each. However, they shared the same greatness. Allah has distinguished the master of martyrs (PBUH) with his dedication for the truth, generosity, and fighters (mujahideen) surrounding him. So, when we visit him (PBUH), we should be inspired by these lofty meanings and seek to materialize them and stand firm on the truth, no matter how tempted we are for it. We must also remember his saying (I swear to Allah that I will not accept anything they want until I meet Allah and I am fully blooded). Whenever it becomes harder for him, he used to say (may Allah alleviate what I am in as I leave for Allah).

As for Imam Al-Sajjad (PBUH), he was distinguished by worship, supplication and invocation, a matter which is demonstrated in his psalms “Al-Sahifah Al-Sajjadia” which calls us to adhere to his method. The supplications that he created with inspiration from Allah guide us to basic religious facts from monotheism to the end of the origins and branches. Regarding his interaction with the calamity of his father Imam Hussein (PBUH) in all his movements and dwellings and by taking over helping the poor, he used to help them before his breakfast. So, whoever is ruled by this imam (PBUH) should take his positions as a guiding light and a method.

As for Mawlana Al Abbas (PBUH), his personality was distinguished by the fear of Allah in secret and in public, submission to the orders of Imam Hussein (PBUH) as the submission of a one’s fingers to one’s will, his courage to establish the truth and to defend and strongly reflect on divinity, a matter which is sought by the Commander of the Faithful (PBUH) and made it the goal that is concerned with his mother, Umul Baneen (PBUH). For the sake of these meanings in his sacred self and for his mother’s majesty, Allah made his honorable shrine a sanctuary for believers to near Him (the Exalted) and to seek their needs.

And we do not forget that in the middle of this month the birth of the Awaited Imam (may Allah hasten his honorable reappearance), which is the last part and the last grandson of the Prophet’s infallible family members (may Allah bless him and his family), may Allah save this Imam for us and for all the believers such as angels, mankind, and jinn so that the purpose of all the prophets and messengers in order to achieve the missions of the all the prophets and messengers and the objectives of the martyrdoms of his pure fathers (PBUH) and his mother Al-Zahra (PBUH). This is an implementation of the Shari’a overall the globe and to seek revenge for those who offended the religion and its mission. We must near Allah through the love and obedience of the Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance) and through seeking the Imam’s love and satisfaction to include us in his honorable prayers.

Oh Allah, hasten the reappearance of your successor and make us among his supporters and helpers, and those who are protected under his banner. Some find this far away but we find it happening soon.  May Allah rid us from this plight with the Awaited Imam’s (may Allah hasten his reappearance) intercession to Allah.