The members of the Academic Council of the “International Conference of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.); Supporter of the Great Prophet (p.b.u.h)” met Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani, one of the grand sources of emulation.
In this meeting, which was held on Thursday morning, December 13, 2018, while thanking the World Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) and partner institutions for holding this conference, Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani said, “By considering all aspects, the great personality of Hazrat Abu Talib and the legitimacy of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) should be explained to everyone.”
“Sometimes, in the form of pamphlets, some people deny the Shiite beliefs and the principles of the Imamiah beliefs and propagandize against it. We must be vigilant against these actions,” he said while warning against some propaganda and seemingly religious activities against Shiite beliefs.
“Today, ill-wishers and Wahhabis have come to the fore and are attacking the Shiites. The legitimacy of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) must be defended. However, with the situation that Saudi Arabia and the enemies have created today against the Muslims, one should also be careful of the enemy’s conspiracies against the Shiites and the Muslims. Therefore, care must be taken not to do anything against the unity of Muslims,” he added.
“Unfortunately, some petrified and fanatical people accuse not only Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) but also the parents of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) that they died in a state of disbelief! In the 8th volume of Al-Ghadir book, Allameh Amini has dedicated more than 100 pages to answering these slanders,” he stated, emphasizing that the character of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) should be properly explained to the society.
“It should be explained that Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) had a special and great position,” he continued, “He was very influential in supporting Islam and the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h), and his faith, spirituality, and culture were also excellent. But unfortunately, some people incorrectly introduce another character of Hazrat Abu Talib.”
“Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) was a monotheist and a believer. But some people have done him injustice,” said Grand Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani, emphasizing that all the ancestors of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) were monotheists.
“His greatness, dignity and personality were at the highest level, and after the death of Hazrat Abd al-Muttalib (a.s.), he supported the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) with strength and courage and did not allow anyone to harm him,” he continued.
“By considering all aspects, the great personality of Hazrat Abu Talib and the legitimacy of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) should be explained to everyone. We should not allow some people to present the facts differently, because many of the things that are said against Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) are based on false hadiths,” he said, expressing satisfaction with the holding of the “International Conference of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.); Supporter of the Great Prophet (p.b.u.h)”.
Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani also emphasized the “artistic and literary aspect of the personality of Hazrat Aboutaleb (a.s.)”, and recited some poems by him, and said, “Just as the father - Abu Talib (a.s.) - was the greatest supporter of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) during the Prophet’s presence in Mecca, so his son - Imam Ali (a.s.) - was the Prophet’s most important supporter during his time in Medina.”
“Of course, in holding the conference of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.), you should pay attention so that the unity between Shiites and Sunnis is not harmed. Because all Muslims must line up on a united front against the enemies of the Muslim Ummah, such as the United States and Al-Saud,” noted this esteemed Shiite Source of Emulation, emphasizing the greater unity of Shiites and Sunnis as an important strategy of the Islamic world.
“Today, the United States, the Zionists, and the Westerners have come out against the Muslim Ummah, and they must be confronted with power,” he added.
Considering the initial report of the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly on the situation of Shiites in Bahrain, Yemen, Nigeria, and Syria, Grand Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani referred to the enemy’s conspiracies to silence Shiites in Bahrain and said, “Bahrain is the birthplace of great Ulama, and has an important position. But with the conspiracies of the United States and Saudi Arabia, this is the situation today.”
“The Bahraini people must continue their uprising, and to wage jihad against the enemies of the Islamic Ummah, and do not allow the demands of the enemies to be implemented in their country. In today’s complex world, one must be vigilant, and not be deceived by the enemy’s conspiracies. Today, Saudi Arabia is trying to hit the Islamic Ummah, especially in Yemen, Bahrain, and Nigeria, by spending huge sums of money,” he added.
We publish books, articles on the character of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.)
At the beginning of the meeting, while appreciating and sincerely thanking Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani, Hojat al-Islam Mohammad Hassan Akhtari said, “We have been pondering for a long time about holding a conference to honor and glorify the character of Sheikh Al-Abateh and Abu al-Aemma, Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.). Because no proper conference has been held for him so far; Neither in Qom nor in Najaf.”
“By the grace of God and the follow-up and efforts of some friends and enthusiasts, the holding of the international conference of Hazrat Aboutaleb (a.s.) was approved with the cooperation of international centers and institutions, and we plan to hold it in 2019,” he added.
“Currently, a call for articles has been prepared and sent to various centers, and we have received a number of articles. In addition to the articles, I hope we can revive the books that exist about Abu Talib (a.s.) but are currently abandoned, to introduce the oppressed personality of Hazrat Abu Talib to Muslims and non-Muslims around the world,” continued the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
Akhtari also presented a report on the situation of the Shiites in Bahrain, Yemen, Nigeria, and Syria, and the Assembly’s efforts to collect and send popular donations to the deprived, and thanked Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani and other Sources of Emulation in this regard.
The head of the “Research and Publishing Institute of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.)” also presented a report on the activities carried out in this regard and said, “Considering that the personality of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) is accepted by everyone and no one has any doubts on this issue, to argue to prove his personality and position in Islam, we must also use the documents and sources of his opponents.”
Hojat al-Islam Sabahi Kashani said, “In addition to Shiite scholars, many Sunni scholars have also proven the faith of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.). One of our tasks has been to correct and do scientific work on these works.”
“In this regard, a scholar named Al-Sayed Muhammad ibn Rasool Al-Barzanji (died in 1103 AH) has written a book about the faith of Abu Talib (a.s.), and the saving the Prophet’s parents called “Sadad al-Din wa Sedad al-Din fi Ethbat al-Najat wa al-Darajat le-al-waledayn”. At the end of this book, he also raises and proves the issue of faith in the salvation of Hazrat Abu Talib,” he continued.
“Barzanji himself then decided to write that conclusion in the form of an independent book and named it “Baghyat al-Talib fi Najat Abi Talib”,” Sabahi added.
“After Barzanji, Allama Suleiman Al-Azhari Al-Latheqi, known as Jamal (d.1204 AH), summarized the book “Sadad al-Din and Sedad al-Din” and named it “Bolough al-Ma’areb fi Najat Abu al-Mostafa wa Ammahu Abi Talib”,” said the director of the Abu Talib Research and Publishing Institute, referring to the continuation of this scientific effort in the past centuries.
“Then another Sunni scholar named Ahmad ibn Zayni Dahlan al-Shafi’i, who was the Imam of the Masjid al-Haram and the Mufti of Mecca (d. 1304 AH), summarized the book “Baghyat al-Talib”, and by adding material from the book “Al-Mawaheb al-Ladonnyah be-al-Manh Al-Muhammadiyya” and “Sharh Al-Mawaheb al-Ladonnyah”, wrote a new book called “Asna Al-Mataleb Fi Najat Abi Talib”,” continued this researcher of Islamic sciences.
Then, referring to his motivation for researching these works, Sabahi Kashani said, “In 2009, Grand Ayatollah Bahjat, in the last weeks of his blessed life, in a session of Dars-e Kharej class, on an occasion referred to Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and the book of Barzanji and said, “A man, who is apparently a Sunni, wrote a book and quoted what the opponents of Abu Talib have said about his lack of faith and salvation, and he has used the same arguments to prove the faith and salvation of Abu Talib and he wrote, ‘Not only do these arguments not imply the desecration of Abu Talib, but they all explicitly imply his salvation’.”
“Recently, Imam Hussein (a.s.) Shrine Publications in Karbala, with the research of Mr. Haidar Abdul Rasoul Awaz, has published Barzanji’s book “Baghyat al-Talib”. Also, the book “Bolough al-Ma’areb” by Jamal was published in Qom in 1421 AH. But the publisher distributed most of the printed issues in Pakistan. However, “Asna Al-Mataleb” has been published nearly ten times in Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, the United States, etc., and its Persian translation and Urdu have also been published,” he said referring to the publication of copies of the mentioned books.
“Although these measures have been taken, so far, no attention has been paid to these few books, and because the character of Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) has been neglected, the value of these books is not known enough,” emphasized the director of Abu Talib Research and Publishing Institute.
“God willing, if there are possibilities, those three books, in addition to a fourth book called “Ithaf al-Talib BeNejata Abi Talib” written by “Muhammad ibn Abd al-Salam Jannoon” (d. 1328 AH), will be corrected and researched, and as one the works of this conference will be reprinted independently and will be presented to the lovers of Abu Talib’s Family (a.s.),” Sabahi expressed in the end.
It should be mentioned that by the initiation of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and support and cooperation of the similar institutions, including, “Imam Hossein (a.s.) Holy Shrine”, “Hazrat Aboutaleb Research and Publishing Institute”, “The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought”, “Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy of Islamic Propagation Office”, “Al-Mustafa International University”, “Hawza Language teaching center”, “The International University of AhlulBayt (a.s.)”, “Mirath-e Nabowat Cultural Institute”, “Jamiat al-Zahra Seminary University”, “Zorria al-Nabawia Research Center”, “Qasem ibn al-Hassan (a.s.) Religious-Cultural Institute”, and “Abna al-Rasoul Cultural and Artistic Institute”; international conference “Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.), Supporter of the Great Prophet (p.b.u.h)” will be held on Rajab 25, 26 and 27, 1442 (March 9, 10 and 11, 2021) on the anniversary of the death of Abu Talib (a.s.).
The deadline for submitting academic works and articles to this conference has been extended until February 18, 2021.
To receive the academic call of the conference, click here.
The other program which will be held on the sideline of the conference is the “General Festival of Poetry about Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.)”.
To receive the academic call for the Poetry Festival, click here.