On the Thursday morning, August 25, 2022, in the commemoration ceremony that was held on the third demise anniversary of Ayatollah Asif Mohseni titled the scientific conference “Approximation of Islamic denominations; theory to practice” in the Conference Hall of the Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, while pointing out the factors of human success, Dr. Ali Yavar Ghaffari stated, “One of the factors of victory and success of every person in life is to use opportunities. According to the Quranic verses, if a person does not take advantage of his opportunities, he will be a loser. Imam Ali (a.s.) said in a hadith, “Use what your possessions, and try to save today for tomorrow.” In another hadith, Imam Sadeq (a.s.) said, “Human capital is his heart and time”.”
“The tradition of AhlulBayt (a.s.) is the use opportunities. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) took advantage of the disputes between Aws and Khazraj and changed the relationship between the two tribes living in the city of Medina in such a way that they were ready to be sacrificed for each other. Also, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) used the opportunity of being in the Umayyad Mosque and completely changed the opinion of the Levant people about Yazid,” he added.
“Ayatollah Asif Mohseni was a modernist and insightful faqih who attended the Islamic Conference as a scholar and mujahid in the early period of Jihad in Afghanistan and used that opportunity of the conference to address the heads of the Islamic countries. He stated that the nation of Afghanistan is fighting on behalf of one billion Muslims and in the same trench where Muhammad Ali was martyred, Muhammad Othman was also martyred. He meant by this statement that there is Shia and Sunni brotherhood among the Afghan nation,” the Afghan scholar added.
Referring to the influence of the Islamic Revolution of Iran on Afghanistan, Ghaffari said, “The victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran caused the awakening of the Afghan nation and led to an armed uprising in different regions of the country. Ayatollah Asif Mohseni used this opportunity and created the Islamic Movement Party. When he learned that the aid for the Afghan Mujahideen was concentrated in Pakistan, he moved the headquarters of his party to Pakistan.”
“After the Jihad era, Ayatollah Asif Mohseni was chosen as the spokesman of the transitional government of Afghanistan, because he thought trans-religiously and convergently,” he continued.
“The republic period in Afghanistan was a unique period in which Shiites were able to establish universities and educational centers for themselves. However, our politicians wasted the opportunity during this period. But Ayatollah Asif Mohseni used this opportunity. Because of his acquaintance with Hamid Karzai, he was able to get 3.5 hectares of land in Kabul to establish Khatam Al Nabieen (p.b.u.h) University school. In this regard, Ayatollah Asefi said, “I did not make this school a religious stronghold, but a scientific center, and people from all religions attend this school”,” the Afghan scholar continued.
“This religious scholar was able to realize the recognition of the Shia denomination in Afghanistan. With this, the Afghan Shiites felt that all the bitterness that they had endured before has come to an end. Ayatollah Asif Mohseni also followed the approval of the Shia Personal Status Law. He made very good use of opportunities,” Ghafari stated, referring to the services of Ayatollah Asif Mohseni.
“After the Jihad era, different Islamic groups engaged in civil war in Afghanistan. Ayatollah Asif Mohseni was able to create Islamic brotherhood between these groups. The brotherhood reached a point where on the Day of Ashura, when the religious feelings of the Shiites reach their peak, Sunni ulama express the virtues and status of the AhlulBayt (a.s.), which is the fruit of Islamic brotherhood,” he continued.
“Ayatollah Asif Mohseni also founded the Council for Shiite Ulama of Afghanistan, which currently has two thousand members and 65 branches. According to the charter of this council, all Shiite ulama should strive for approximation of Islamic denominations. Also, in the social field, Ayatollah Asif Mohseni established Tamddun TV,” the Afghan researcher noted.
The organizes of the commemoration ceremony that was held on the third demise anniversary of Ayatollah Asif Mohseni titled the scientific conference “Approximation of Islamic denominations; theory to practice”, are AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, AhlulBayt (a.s.) News Agency – ABNA, Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, Khatam Al Nabieen (p.b.u.h) University, and the Institute for Editing and Publishing works of Ayatollah Asif Mohseni.
Ayatollah Mohammad Asif Mohseni Kandahari, one of the great Shia ulama of Afghanistan, a member of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and the head of the Council for Islamic Brotherhood of Afghanistan, passed on August 5, 2019, at the age of 85 in Kabul, Afghanistan.