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• 11 Rabi’ul Awwal 1438

The Representative of the Leading Marja’iyah in Europe congratulates the Muslim world on the anniversary of the blessed births of the Noble Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdillah (s.a.w.w.) and his grandson Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (a.s.) and says:
• Commemorating the anniversary of the two blessed births is abiding by the commands of Allah and the Sunnah of the holy Prophet which is in line with the approach of the immaculate household (a.s).
• Appealed to scholars and preachers, world politicians and thinkers in the community to stop the phenomenon of extremism which has tarnished the image of Islam in the world. He also stressed the need for unity, love and friendship and the renunciation of hatred and to respect Muslim blood, honour and property because it is as sacred as the holy Ka’ba.

Speaking on the occasion of the two noble births and reads as follows:

The Muslim world celebrates the Unity Week every year on the 12th and 17th of Rabi’ul-Awwal, [on the Islamic calendar], with the birth of the great prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.w) and his grandson Imam Ja’far ibn Mohummad Al-Sadiq (a.s), whose birthdays coincided on the same day. It is perhaps no coincidence that these two occasions fall on the same day without the unity of purpose and approach. It was the prophet (s.a.w.w) who laid the foundations and rules to guide people and take them from darkness to light. This was explained by the beloved daughter of the holy prophet (s.a.w.w) Al-Zahra (s.a.) when she said: (وكنتم على شفا حفرة من النار مذقة الشارب ونهزة الطامع وقبسة العجلان وموطئ الأقدام تشربون الطرق وتقتاتون القد أذلة خاسئين تخافون أن يتخطفكم الناس من حولكم فأنقذكم الله تبارك وتعالى بمحمد صلى الله عليه وآله بعد اللتيا والتي، وبعد أن مني ببُهم الرجال وذؤبان العرب ومردة أهل الكتاب كُلَّمَا أَوْقَدُوا نَارًا لِلْحَرْبِ أَطْفَأَهَا اللَّهُ) –
Decades after came the innovator Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) to explain the significance of this school and to clarify its legislative, educational, ethical and scientific system.
If we ask ourselves about the reason behind the celebration, the answer would be: That we celebrate this occasion for the sake of glorifying the holy prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the immaculate household (a.s.) and to follow their example showing our love for them and making them happy - as in the well known al-Arba’een Hadith of Amirul-Momineen (a.s.):" إن الله تبارك وتعالى اطلع إلى الأرض فاختارنا ، واختار لنا شيعة ينصروننا ، يفرحون لفرحنا ، ويحزنون لحزننا ، ويبذلون أموالهم وأنفسهم فينا ، أولئك منا وإلينا "
In celebrating this occasion there is victory for the prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) and joy for them also. But one wonders if everyone celebrating these birthday occasions would be praised and is true in their love for them?

The answer is: No. Because some of those celebrating are either enemies or cause great hurt to them, due to their insistence on committing sins such as; disobedience to parents, rupturing relations with their family, lying, backbiting, insult and spreading discord and hatred among Muslims – all of which are grave sins- and those who insist on committing them are enemies of Allah and the prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.). By this they are transgressing the limits of Allah and do the opposite of His commands and prohibitions. ((The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;)) Holy Qur’an 5:33.

Jaber quoting from Abi Ja’far (a.s.) reported: (يا جابر، لا تذهبن بك المذاهب. حسب الرجل أن يقول : أحب عليًا وأتولاه ثم لا يكون مع ذلك فعَّالًا ، فلو قال : إني أحب رسول الله فرسول الله -صلى الله عليه وآله - خير من علي (ع) ، ثم لا يتبع سيرته ولا يعمل بسنته ما نفعه حبه إياه شيئًا ...... من كان لله مطيعًا فهو لنا ولي ومن كان لله عاصيًا فهو لنا عدو) .) Amro ibn Khalid reported: (فمن كان منكم مطيعًا لله تنفعه ولايتنا ، ومن كان منكم عاصيًا لم تنفعه ولايتنا ، ويحكم لا تغتروا ، ويحكم لا تغتروا).

From the aforementioned Qura’nic verse and the two reports we see that the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) are innocent of those insisting on committing sins. There is also a statement which is even more serious. Abi Zaid stated: (كنت عند أبي عبد الله (ع) فدخل عيسى بن عبد الله القمي ، فرحب به ، وقربه من مجلسه ، ثم قال : يا عيسى بن عبد الله ، ليس منا - ولا كرامة - من كان في مصر فيه مائة ألف أو يزيدون ، وكان في ذلك المصر أحد أورع منه )
The insistence on sins is a betrayal of Allah Almighty, because Allah entrusted humans with their bodies and faculties so that may not be used for sin – but this trust was lost by sin. Abi Jarood reported from Abi Ja’far (a.s.): ((O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you.) Holy Qur’an 8:27. Betraying Allah and His messenger is a sin. Those insisting on sins cause great hurt to the prophet (s.a.w.w.) and to Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.), because according to authentic narrations, peoples’ actions will be presented to the 12th Imam (may Allah hasten his reappearance).

The most important aspect of celebrating this blessed occasion is to maintain the unity among Muslims and renounce hatred between them. As the Almighty says: (( And hold fast to the rope of Allah..)), ((and do not fall into dispute, lest ye lose heart and your power depart;..)), especially these days when the scourge of terrorism and extremism based on violence and refusal of coexistence and other actions which have tarnished the reputation of Islam and caused great loss of Muslim lives and instability in many regional countries, which is a warning of the spread of this phenomena and its continuation to other countries and people, as is the case.

All scholars and preachers, politicians and thinkers need to combat such ideas and adopt a moderate ideology, which Islam is based upon, and called for by divine religions, as the basis for tolerance and peaceful coexistence among the various componenets and affiliations of society.

Here we see the Islamic teachings contained in the words of our prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) and the immaculate Imams (a.s.) from his household ordering us to treat people with kindness, love and affection. It is stated in the Sahiha of Abdullah ibn Sinan narrated from Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) that he heard him say: (أوصيكم بتقوى الله ولا تحملوا الناس على أكتافكم فتذلوا إن الله عزوجل يقول في كتابه ((وقولوا للناس حسنًا)
and then he said: visit their sick and attend their funerals and testify for them and pray in their mosques. In the Hadith of Marzam he said: (عليكم بالصلاة في المساجد وحسن الجوار للناس. وإقامة الشهادة وحضور الجنائز ، إنه لا بد لكم من الناس، إن أحدًا لا يستغني عن الناس حياته والناس لا بد لبعضهم من بعض)
In Sahlihat Mua’wiyah ibn Wahab: : (قلت له : كيف ينبغي لنا أن نصنع فيما بيننا وبين قومنا وبين خلطائنا من الناس ممن ليسوا على أمرنا فقال: تنظرون إلى أئمتهم الذين تقتدون بهم فتصنعون يصنعون فوالله إنهم ليعودون مرضاهم ويشهدون جنائزهم ويقيمون لهم الشهادة لهم وعليهم ويؤدون الأمانة إليهم ).
Also in the Hadith of Katheer ibn A’aqamah: (كونوا لنا زينا ولا تكونوا علينا شينًا .حببونا إلى الناس ولا تبغضونا إليهم فَجُرُّوا إلينا كل مودة وادفعوا عنا كل شر)
And in the Sahih Zaid Al-Shah’haam: :(وأدوا الأمانة إلى ن ائتمنكم عليها براً أو فاجراً فإن رسول الله (ص) كان يأمر بأداء الخيط والمخيط ......والله لحدثني أبي (ع) أن الرجل كان يكون في القبيلة من شيعة علي (ع) فيكون زينها، آداهم للأمانة وأقضاهم للحقوق وأصدقهم للحديث إليه وصاياهم وودائعهم تسأل العشيرة عنه فتقول: من مثل فلان؟ إنه آدانا للأمانة وأصدقنا في الحديث).

From the teachings of the holy Qur’an and the authentic narrations from the prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the immaculate household (a.s.), there can be no pretext left for a Muslim or a Muslimah to commit what makes Allah and His prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the immaculate household angry. If we apply and commit ourselves to these commands and teachings, then we will have celebrated the two blessed birthday occasions - as Allah and His messenger (s.a.w.w) and the immaculate Imams (a.s.) want us to.

In conclusion, His Eminence called upon scholars and preachers and those influential personalities in the community to safeguard the unity of Muslims, away from Takfiri fatwas and discrimination.

Because differences of opinion in faith and thought does not entitle the other person to lawfully shed the blood of his brother or violate his honour and property, especially these days we hear of the shameful crimes and massacres being committed in the name of Islam, Tawhid and the Message - whereas Islam is innocent of it.

O scholars and preachers and Muslim leaders, by Allah safeguard Muslim blood, honour and property because to violate them angers Allah and His messenger (s.a.w.w) and the immaculate household (a.s.)
((Those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment.)) Holy Qur’an 4:14

I ask the Almighty to make us follow the approach of the prophet (s.a.w.w.) and his immaculate household (a.s.), [Allah] He Listens and Responds.