Late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi literally “divine scholar”, “brave”: Ayatollah Ramazani
Referring to the works of late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “The late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi wrote glorious works on various subjects such as beliefs, philosophy, Fiqh, Osul, and ethics, and was literally a divine scholar.”
The commemoration ceremony for Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Ali Alemi Balkhabi, the father of the martyrs, one of the prominent Ulama of Afghanistan, was held with a speech by Ayatollah Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) Mosque, Qom.
At the ceremony, stating that Ayatollah Alemi was an influential Alem who acted upon what he believed in the literal sense of the word, Ayatollah Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “He promoted spirituality, ethics, and Sharia.”
“He immigrated to Mashhad after completing his primary education in his homeland, Afghanistan. Then, in two periods of attending the seminary of Najaf, he participated in the classes of great Ulama such as Ayatollah Khoei, Imam Khomeini, and Ayatollah Hakim, and became a comprehensive figure,” said Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, referring to the blessed life of Ayatollah Alemi.
“The late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi wrote glorious works on various subjects such as beliefs, philosophy, Fiqh, Osul, and ethics, and was literally a divine scholar,” he said, referring to the works of late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi.
“He was acquainted with the Akbar (major) and Asghar (minor) Thaqalayn (weights), namely the Quran and the AhlulBayt (a.s.), and always trust in God and recourse in the divine guardians,” stated the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly about the practical life of the late Ayatollah Ameli Balkhabi.
“Ayatollah Alemi’s father was also one of the most influential Ulama and figures in Afghanistan and had scientific and social services in the north of the country,” he continued.
“The establishment of mosques, husseiniyahs, libraries, and the reconstruction of the shrine of Yahya bin Zayd are among the lasting works of the deceased. To rebuild the shrine of Yahya bin Zayd, he even sold his house to complete the building. Today, this tomb can be a scientific, cultural, and spiritual center in the region,” stated the professor of the higher levels of the seminary of Qom on the services of Ayatollah Ameli.
“After Soviet invasion to Afghanistan, he jurisprudentially examined the role of Ulama at the time. He eventually deduced jihad and resistance and leads jihad in northern Afghanistan, and even his children and wife were martyred in this way,” he said on the jihadi struggles of Ayatollah Alemi.
“According to the hadiths, explaining the religious rules is the duty of the Ulama. By reciting the divine verses, the Ulama should benefit the people from the divine knowledge so that the people are connected to the world of spirituality. Ulama should teach the divine book (Quran) to the people and have an educational position. Scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and the prophets were the instructors of human beings. They introduced the world of spirituality to people. Therefore, religious scholars are expected to recite divine verses and play the role of teacher and mentor in society. Ayatollah Alemi had these characteristics. He both taught the divine teachings to different sections of society, and raised many students who are sources of services and blessing in different parts of Afghanistan and other countries,” said Ayatollah Ramazani on the mission of Ulama (religious scholars) in society.
“If ignorance pervades human society, society will turn to extremism and people will be confused. The situation gets worse, especially when there is extremism in the name of religion. Therefore, it is stated in the Hadiths that you should be either a scholar, a learner, or a lover of the knowledge,” he added, stating that the religious community should be knowledge-oriented.
“Umayyad view of religion was aristocratic. The Abbasids also used religion as a tool. But from the Alawite (referring to Imam Ali) point of view, religion is spirituality, thinking, reasoning and justice. Humanity must taste justice and stand against oppression. Some introduce Islam as liberal which distances itself from practice and society, and that man has only a heartfelt relationship with God. Such an Islam is not responsible, but avoids accepting it and is even in conflict with it,” said the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, referring to different views on religion throughout history.
“Extremist Islam offers an unrealistic interpretation of religion and attributes violence to religion; the Islam which is a mercy to the world and its prophet whose management was based on morality, are introduced differently. Therefore, due to a misunderstanding of religion, killings took place in Islamic countries,” he continued.
“Pure Islam is the religion of rationality, thought, reason, justice, moderation, and avoidance of extremism. Islam can comprehensively influence the individual, social and political spheres and make the society reform and reach justice. Ayatollah Alemi was also a comprehensive Alem and did not just look at things individually. Rather, his vision was individual, social and political, and he was present in various fields and arenas,” said Ayatollah Ramazani on the characteristics of pure Islam.
“If an Alem (religious scholar) is truthful, he will connect society to the spiritual world and have a profound effect on the soul and psyche of individuals,” added Ayatollah Ramazani, considering honesty as one of the characteristics of the religious scholar.
“We must resist the autocrats and those who violate the dignity of the people. There are about 400 verses in the Quran about jihad and resistance, which show the importance of jihad. Jihad is a success that some certain believers have. Not everyone succeeds in appearing on the battlefield against the enemy. The duty of the religious scholar is not only to pray and say religious rules. Where necessary, he should be in the battlefield of jihad, a clear example of which is Ayatollah Alemi, and he inherited courage from his ancestor, Hazrat Sayed al-Shuhada Imam Hussain (a.s.),” added the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, stating that resistance is another characteristic of a religious scholar.
“The goal of Ayatollah Alemi from jihad was to save the society from ignorance, and to keep the teachings of religion alive in society, just as his ancestor Sayed al-Shuhada, Imam Hussein (a.s.) did,” he added.
“Ignorance means dependence on the world, losing oneself, ambition, being worldliness, and distancing oneself from the light of Tawhid. The goal of the Alem is to save people from ignorance and to show the path to the people. True Ulama are those who carry out their mission, which is education and training people. And when they encounter some people on the path of ignorance, they suffer and grieve,” added the professor of the highest levels of the seminary of Qom, stating that ignorance does not mean “not knowing”.
“Ayatollah Alemi was a man whom people trusted if he spoke. An Alem should have such a role and position,” he added, saying that the role of scholars today should be the same as the role of Ayatollah Alemi.
“Today, maintaining unity solidarity is important. Ayatollah Alemi also sought unity. It is narrated about him that the Sunni brothers were no less interested in him than the Shiites. Religion has nothing to do with violence. Therefore, we should seek peaceful coexistence and there should be no Muslim killing in the country. The Muslim people of Afghanistan have a role to play in their own destiny and must choose their own government. Care must be taken that the enemies do not take advantage of the situation. In this situation, the role of Ulama is very important and outstanding,” he said, referring to the current situation in Afghanistan, in his advice to the scholars of the country.
Referring to the works of late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “The late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi wrote glorious works on various subjects such as beliefs, philosophy, Fiqh, Osul, and ethics, and was literally a divine scholar.”
The commemoration ceremony for Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Ali Alemi Balkhabi, the father of the martyrs, one of the prominent Ulama of Afghanistan, was held with a speech by Ayatollah Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) Mosque, Qom.
At the ceremony, stating that Ayatollah Alemi was an influential Alem who acted upon what he believed in the literal sense of the word, Ayatollah Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “He promoted spirituality, ethics, and Sharia.”
“He immigrated to Mashhad after completing his primary education in his homeland, Afghanistan. Then, in two periods of attending the seminary of Najaf, he participated in the classes of great Ulama such as Ayatollah Khoei, Imam Khomeini, and Ayatollah Hakim, and became a comprehensive figure,” said Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, referring to the blessed life of Ayatollah Alemi.
“The late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi wrote glorious works on various subjects such as beliefs, philosophy, Fiqh, Osul, and ethics, and was literally a divine scholar,” he said, referring to the works of late Ayatollah Alemi Balkhabi.
“He was acquainted with the Akbar (major) and Asghar (minor) Thaqalayn (weights), namely the Quran and the AhlulBayt (a.s.), and always trust in God and recourse in the divine guardians,” stated the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly about the practical life of the late Ayatollah Ameli Balkhabi.
“Ayatollah Alemi’s father was also one of the most influential Ulama and figures in Afghanistan and had scientific and social services in the north of the country,” he continued.
“The establishment of mosques, husseiniyahs, libraries, and the reconstruction of the shrine of Yahya bin Zayd are among the lasting works of the deceased. To rebuild the shrine of Yahya bin Zayd, he even sold his house to complete the building. Today, this tomb can be a scientific, cultural, and spiritual center in the region,” stated the professor of the higher levels of the seminary of Qom on the services of Ayatollah Ameli.
“After Soviet invasion to Afghanistan, he jurisprudentially examined the role of Ulama at the time. He eventually deduced jihad and resistance and leads jihad in northern Afghanistan, and even his children and wife were martyred in this way,” he said on the jihadi struggles of Ayatollah Alemi.
“According to the hadiths, explaining the religious rules is the duty of the Ulama. By reciting the divine verses, the Ulama should benefit the people from the divine knowledge so that the people are connected to the world of spirituality. Ulama should teach the divine book (Quran) to the people and have an educational position. Scholars are the heirs of the prophets, and the prophets were the instructors of human beings. They introduced the world of spirituality to people. Therefore, religious scholars are expected to recite divine verses and play the role of teacher and mentor in society. Ayatollah Alemi had these characteristics. He both taught the divine teachings to different sections of society, and raised many students who are sources of services and blessing in different parts of Afghanistan and other countries,” said Ayatollah Ramazani on the mission of Ulama (religious scholars) in society.
“If ignorance pervades human society, society will turn to extremism and people will be confused. The situation gets worse, especially when there is extremism in the name of religion. Therefore, it is stated in the Hadiths that you should be either a scholar, a learner, or a lover of the knowledge,” he added, stating that the religious community should be knowledge-oriented.
“Umayyad view of religion was aristocratic. The Abbasids also used religion as a tool. But from the Alawite (referring to Imam Ali) point of view, religion is spirituality, thinking, reasoning and justice. Humanity must taste justice and stand against oppression. Some introduce Islam as liberal which distances itself from practice and society, and that man has only a heartfelt relationship with God. Such an Islam is not responsible, but avoids accepting it and is even in conflict with it,” said the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, referring to different views on religion throughout history.
“Extremist Islam offers an unrealistic interpretation of religion and attributes violence to religion; the Islam which is a mercy to the world and its prophet whose management was based on morality, are introduced differently. Therefore, due to a misunderstanding of religion, killings took place in Islamic countries,” he continued.
“Pure Islam is the religion of rationality, thought, reason, justice, moderation, and avoidance of extremism. Islam can comprehensively influence the individual, social and political spheres and make the society reform and reach justice. Ayatollah Alemi was also a comprehensive Alem and did not just look at things individually. Rather, his vision was individual, social and political, and he was present in various fields and arenas,” said Ayatollah Ramazani on the characteristics of pure Islam.
“If an Alem (religious scholar) is truthful, he will connect society to the spiritual world and have a profound effect on the soul and psyche of individuals,” added Ayatollah Ramazani, considering honesty as one of the characteristics of the religious scholar.
“We must resist the autocrats and those who violate the dignity of the people. There are about 400 verses in the Quran about jihad and resistance, which show the importance of jihad. Jihad is a success that some certain believers have. Not everyone succeeds in appearing on the battlefield against the enemy. The duty of the religious scholar is not only to pray and say religious rules. Where necessary, he should be in the battlefield of jihad, a clear example of which is Ayatollah Alemi, and he inherited courage from his ancestor, Hazrat Sayed al-Shuhada Imam Hussain (a.s.),” added the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, stating that resistance is another characteristic of a religious scholar.
“The goal of Ayatollah Alemi from jihad was to save the society from ignorance, and to keep the teachings of religion alive in society, just as his ancestor Sayed al-Shuhada, Imam Hussein (a.s.) did,” he added.
“Ignorance means dependence on the world, losing oneself, ambition, being worldliness, and distancing oneself from the light of Tawhid. The goal of the Alem is to save people from ignorance and to show the path to the people. True Ulama are those who carry out their mission, which is education and training people. And when they encounter some people on the path of ignorance, they suffer and grieve,” added the professor of the highest levels of the seminary of Qom, stating that ignorance does not mean “not knowing”.
“Ayatollah Alemi was a man whom people trusted if he spoke. An Alem should have such a role and position,” he added, saying that the role of scholars today should be the same as the role of Ayatollah Alemi.
“Today, maintaining unity solidarity is important. Ayatollah Alemi also sought unity. It is narrated about him that the Sunni brothers were no less interested in him than the Shiites. Religion has nothing to do with violence. Therefore, we should seek peaceful coexistence and there should be no Muslim killing in the country. The Muslim people of Afghanistan have a role to play in their own destiny and must choose their own government. Care must be taken that the enemies do not take advantage of the situation. In this situation, the role of Ulama is very important and outstanding,” he said, referring to the current situation in Afghanistan, in his advice to the scholars of the country.