In his meeting with Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, the secretary general of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stated: “We have enemies who seek to hinder our progress and the spread of Islam in the world, but they will not succeed in doing so.”
He, then, continued: “the teachings of Islam and the Shia school will be accepted by the whole world once they find the chance to present themselves the way they truly are. Although some intend to limit the scope of Shia school, they will, God willing, fail in their plots. Fortunately, the school of the Ahl-al-Bayt (a) is becoming more popular with the people of the world and this is what worries some enemies”.
Calling the adherence to the Thaqalayn the key to the redemption of the Muslim Ummah, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi further stated: “due to our adherence to the Quran and the Ahl-al-Bayt (a) we have not fallen in error in terms of our ideological principles. The belief in the competence of reasoning is one of the great achievements and a source of pride for Shia school.
Emphasizing the fact that the people of the world are more prepared today to embrace Islam and the school of the Ahl-al-Bayt (a), his eminence said: “while promoting the teachings of the Ahl-al-Bayt (a) one must be cautious to avoid discussing issues that would hurt the feelings of others. This is what we have also done while editing the “Nemouneh Commentary” and so we have seen that it has been quite successful in attracting all Muslims, including the Ahlussunah”.
His eminence also stated: “the issue of proximity must not stop us from supporting our own beliefs. However, this must be done with extra attention and sensitivity so as to avoid insulting other people’s sanctities. I hope that this line will be pursued in the issue of proximity”.
He, further, stated: “if the extremists stop insulting the sanctities of other schools, we will finally witness great achievements regarding the proximity of Islamic schools. Although the Shaykh of al-Azhar was a supporter of proximity, unfortunately he has changed his stance recently and has made some remarks against Shia school. This is why I wrote a letter to him and reminded him of some points which are necessary for the proximity of Islamic schools.”
