ABWA Official Website - On the Thursday morning, October 18, 2022, Dr. Abdul Amir Aziz Qurayshi, head of the Karbala Center for Studies and Research, affiliated with the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.), and the accompanying delegation met with Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Qom.
In this meeting, noting that the holding commemorating conference for late Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi is significant and is highly valued, Ayatollah Ramazani said, “In the past, the relationship between people and Marjaiat has had different dimensions and periods. At one time, ulama were known as narrators of hadiths, whose job was only to narrate hadiths. But in the later eras, they were known as sources of emulation. Imam Khomeini (r.a.) changed the relationship between the people and the ulama into the relationship between the Ummah and the Imam. Therefore, the sanctity and reference of ulama became a great capacity for the Shiite world.”
“You should try to maintain the sanctity of Marjaiat for the peace of people and global security. We must provide a comprehensive, profound and meticulous understanding of Islam in today’s society. Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi felt that he had to rise and resist oppression and he did so. Therefore, today we need this kind of understanding of Islam,” Ayatollah Ramazani said, addressing the head of the Karbala Center for Studies and Research.
Regarding some one-dimensional views of Islam, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “Some limit religion to people and society, which is a dangerous view, and some, in the other hand, consider Islam to be in favor of world peace to the extent that it should reconcile with Israel! In his meeting with the Pope, Grand Ayatollah Sistani raised the issue of Palestine and the rights of the people there and emphasized the fight against oppression, which is a very valuable point of view.”
“The other view is the bitter historical and extreme view of Daesh. We believe that there is mercy, kindness and peace in Islam. On the other hand, there is resistance and standing against oppression and aggression in Islam. In this regard, Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi was an example of mercy (with Muslims), and resistance against disbelief and aggression,” he added.
Regarding the importance of holding a conference in honor of Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi, the professor of higher levels of the Qom seminary emphasized, “It is very important to hold this conference in today’s Iraq, and the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly accompanies you in this regard. In the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, we are obliged to strengthen our relationship with the people and Marjaiat. The late Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi is one of the influential figures in contemporary history. Therefore, in the scientific and news coverage of this conference, we can benefit from the facilities and networks of the Assembly, such as WikiShia, AhlulBayt (a.s.) News Agency - ABNA - and Thaqalayn TV.”
It worth mentioning that at the beginning of this meeting, Dr. Abdul Amir Aziz Qurayshi, conveyed the greetings of Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai, the custodian of the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain (a.s.) to the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and presented a report on the activities of the Karbala Center for Studies and Research.
About Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi, Qurayshi said, “His character in the 1920 Revolution of the Iraqi people and the struggle of the people of the country against British colonialism is of great importance in Iraq and the Islamic world. Today, Grand Ayatollah Sayed Ali Sistani is playing the same significant role in Iraq. After holding a conference to commemorate Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taghi Shirazi, we are planning to hold a commemoration for the late Youssef Al-Bahrani, the author of the book Al-Hadaeq.” /345/