• Activities
• 11 Thi Alhija 1434

The representative of the leading religious authority [Marja’iyah] in Europe:
* Explains the reason behind the Marja’iyah’s banning of its pictures being raised in government departments and other institutions as being ‘self-promotion.’
* Condemns sectarian attacks on rallies and funerals, mosques and other places.
* Considers the abuse of Islamic figures as part of the justification to attack innocent people.
* Thanks a number of prayer leaders, from both inside and outside Iraq, for their moderate and balanced approach in calling for unity and renouncement of discord in accordance with Islamic morals and to respect the safeguarding of human life.

Allamah Sayyid Murtaza Kashmiri’s remarks came in response to questions by the Voice of the Iraqi Community.

The leading Marja’iyah in the holy city of Najaf has, from the outset, persistently shunned appearing on the media and banned the distribution of its pictures; considering it as self-promotion. The Marja’iyah’s place is mandated and not ceremonious so as to show-off as such. According to our beliefs, the Marja’ is assigned by the creator to serve and propagate the faith, educate professionals to continue this noble path and support the faith with enlightened scholars anytime anywhere - as did the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) - and to provide a scientific atmosphere and financial backing for the Hawzas everywhere so they may flourish and not rely on others, thus safeguarding the independence of this noble path and its men from deviation.

Through centers established for Momineen [the believers], the Marja’iyah also finances general building projects for them all over the world and supplements their essential requirements, caring for thousands of widows and orphans and needy people; building organizations and schools in European countries, Latin America, Africa and the Far East, to cater for Muslim communities and educate their children to protect them wasting their lives. The main cause of the Marja’iyah’s sleepless nights these days is the emergence of sectarian strife that lead thousands of innocent lives being lost by car-bombs and explosive belts, attacks on funerals processions, mosques and public gatherings. All this is a result of conspiracies woven by internal and external enemies, not to mention the squabbling politicians who only care about their personal position and their green zone. It is unfortunate that recently some senseless splinter groups have emerged to fan the flames of fire by abusing Islamic figures, revered by other Muslim faiths, only to provide a pretext for terrorists, Takfiris and Salafis to intensify their attacks on unarmed and innocent followers of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.). Such groups imagine they are doing a service to the faith, only to do more harm to it than good. The Almighty has referred to these groups as: ((Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?)) Holy Quran chapter 18, verse 104

For this reason the latest response by the Marja’iyah condemns and denounces this act as being contrary to the commands of kinship, compassion and friendship given by the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) to their Shias; even between others with different views; because what they have in common is greater than that which divides them. The Marja’iya’s representative also thanked a number of prayer leaders [Imams] from inside and outside of Iraq for their moderate and balanced approached in calling for unity and renouncement of discord, in accordance with Islamic morals and to respect the safeguarding of human life; for it is forbidden [to destroy].

((If a man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (For ever): And the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him.)) Holy Quran chapter 4, verse 93

Finally, Allamah Syed Murtaza Kashmiri thanked the Voice of the Iraqi Community for their important and sensitive questions.