In a meeting with a group of converts to the School of Ahlul Bayt from Sistan, Hormozgan, Kordestan and Golestan provinces, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stated that offending each other’s sacraments is wrong.
He said, “We do not offend other people’s sacraments, and do not allow anyone to do so. I have issued this in the form of a Fatwa and published it. Nonetheless, without offending anyone, we have chosen the right path and we welcome those who embrace it.”
He addressed the group, “You have found the correct path as well, and you must be grateful to God for this blessing. You have been free people who bravely found the right path, and accepted the expenses of embracing it. You should know that a great reward awaits you.”
He added, “God says in the Qur’an: Indeed those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah!’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, [saying,] ‘Do not fear, nor be grieved! Receive the good news of the paradise, which you have been promised.”
He said, “The path is clear, yet what can we do for those who don’t want to accept it.”
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said, “Your duty in this regard is important. Act in a way that people will see the difference in your attitude after your conversion to the School of Ahlul Bayt (‘a). You should invite people to the School of the Infallible Imams (‘a) with your good manners and actions.”
In another part of his speech, he stated that we can prove the righteousness of Shia without referring to the Ahlul Bayt (‘a) as a source, and added, “Followers of the School of Ahlul Bayt (‘a) can prove their righteousness by referring to the most dominant Sunni sources.”
His eminence emphasized, “One of the Pakistani Scholars from the Sunni School had said that the Shia can prove the principles and details of their religion using our references and he had wished these hadiths did not exist in these books”
Mentioning the historical will of Imam Khomaini, which begins by pointing out to the Hadith of Thaqalayn, he said, “In this narration the Prophet (s) said, “Those who cling to the Qur’an and my tradition will not go astray, these two will never be separated from each other, until they come to me by the Pool of Kawthar.””
He explained, “The Hadith of Thaqalayn is Mutawater (authentic). If there is no religious prejudice, this Hadith alone is enough to accept the School of the Ahlul Bayt.”
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi pointed out to the verse “ إِنَّ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَـئِکَ هُمْ خَیْرُ الْبَرِیَّةِ”, and explained, “When this verse was revealed, the Noble Prophet (s) addressed Amiral Mo’menin saying, “You and your Shia are the best of creatures.”
His eminence reiterated, “Nonetheless, following the right path has its troubles, but God shall help those who take this path and will solve their problems.”
Commenting on the wave of Islamism, specifically for the School of Ahlul Bayt (‘a), he expressed, “Nowadays, many people from the east and the west of the world convert to the School of the Ahlul Bayt (‘a), because the wisdom that exists in books such as Sahifa Sajjadiya and Nahjul Balagha cannot be found anywhere else.”
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi explained that in the School of Ahlul Bayt, Qur’an and Islam are connected to Reason, and said, “If someone looks from the outside, the side which believes in reason is more acceptable. At the same time, the Qur’an is for those whom have reason, 70 verses of the book are about the people of reason. Also, the first chapter of the book Al- Kafi is about reason and ignorance although another group has a different opinion about the authenticity of reason.
He reiterated, “We believe humans can choose the path they follow, although others have a different idea and believe in other things which mentioning is not suitable for this session.”
