In a meeting with Hujjat al-Islam Mohammad Qommi, the head of the Islamic Propagation Organization, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi referred to the report submitted by him and said, “There is no doubt that we have principles that we can never abandon. Among these principles is the issue of mourning during the months of Muharram and Safar.”
The revered source of emulation emphasized the need for appropriate measures in this regard and said, “If we abandon these matters, it will lead to trouble, if we want to act, it must be in such a manner where health protocols are observed and that spiritual and religious aspects aren’t neglected, just as the case with Friday prayers.”
He stated, “If we don’t have a standard and criterion in this regard, there will be problems. Therefore, those in charge should definitely pay enough and necessary attention in this regard in order to consider the religious and denominational concerns of the people and to maintain their health and safety protocols.”
Emphasizing that the Ashura ceremony can’t be stopped at any cost, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi added, “What did they do with Ashura during the era of the Shah, Reza Khan [Pahlavi]? But everyone saw that they didn’t do anything.”
His Eminence noted the problems in the country, including economic issues and said, “As we express cultural problems, we also address the economic and livelihood problems of the people. In this regard, we issued a statement so that people know that the religious authorities also criticize the high prices and give the necessary warnings.”
He praised the entry of the clergy into social issues, including their assistance to health defenders and emphasized, “In the sensitive and serious situation in which many patients with Coronavirus find themselves, the entry of the clergy and seminarians into this field and their assistance to patients and their performance of funeral ablutions and burials of the deceased had a great impact on society and this is one of the most effective types of propagation.”
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stressed the need to better and further utilize these capacities and said, “These kinds of activities and the help of the clergy is propagation on the one hand and on the other hand it shows that the clergy and the seminaries are with the people and their sympathizers.”
Rasa News Agency