Leading the weekly congregational prayers at Qom’s Holy Shrine of Lady Fatimah al-Ma’sumah on the last Friday prayers of the Persian solar calendar year of 1393, Ayatollah Ali-Reza Arafi spoke of Iran’s ongoing negotiations with the P5+1 group of countries over Iran’s disputed nuclear power program. He emphasized that Iran’s argument is that Iranians are a people of mercy, logic and of constant dialogue. This shows that Iran is not stubborn and inflexible.
His Eminence pointed to the success of the [Islamic] resistance in the region and emphasized that if they cross the red lines and bully the resistance front, Iran and all the world’s Muslims will rise up and resist the aggressors by following the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei).
Referring to the events of the last year, Ayatollah Arafi said that the year 1393 was a year of many challenges and difficulties, such as the expansion of a wave of Takfirism and extremism throughout the Muslim world. “However, alongside Takfiri terrorism, the [true] Islamic resistance achieved progress and success throughout the region,” he stated.
Reflecting on the historical events occurring around the time of Norouz, the Persian New Year, His Eminence stated that it was in on the 3rd of Farvardin, 1301 (24th of March, 1922) that the Holy Islamic Seminary of Qom was re-established by Grand Ayatollah AbdolKarim Haeri-Yazdi.
Also, in March 1963, Qom’s renowned Fayzieh Seminary was attacked by the corrupt Shah’s paratroopers and secret police, resulting in the martyrdom of several seminarians. This event was the commencement and the spark for the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The president of Qom’s al-Mustafa International University explained that the year 1393 was a year of great blessings for the Islamic Seminary of Qom, saying that the developed and dynamic Islamic Seminary of Qom has many levels of hardships behind it but the people have always supported it and due to the blessings of Lady Ma’sumah, several descendents of the Imams, and the great people of the seminary it has been established and we must realize the seminary’s many blessings.
He emphasized that Qom is the foothold of spirituality, ethics and religious development and the Islamic Seminary of Qom is the source of many great movements and the Islamic Revolution. “The message of Qom to the world is a message of friendship, kindness and collaboration with other nations and academic centres throughout the world. The Seminary of Qom considers itself as standing alongside other academic centres and universities which the late Imam (Khomeini) also stressed upon.”
The scholar emphasized the need for greater interaction between the Islamic Seminary of Qom and Egypt’s renowned Sunni institution of al-Azhar, saying: “Qom is ready for dialogue and interaction with al-Azhar and we request that the scholars of al-Azhar join us in the discourse of Islamic Revolution and join us in the fight against the arrogant powers and extremism.”
Ayatollah Arafi also offered his condolences on the occasion of the martyrdom of Lady Fatimah az-Zahra, the beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, saying that despite the happy atmosphere surrounding Norouz, we must protect and appreciate the dignity of the Holy Family of the Prophet.
