In a meeting with a number of Argentinian Shias and clerics, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stated that the world of today has lost all hope in materialism and is now on the sacred path towards religious beliefs. He also stated in this regard: “Among all religions and creeds the one religion which can satiate the souls of the people is the religion of Islam and within the religion of Islam it is the Shia school which possesses such a unique capability”.
He then added: “One of the important principles in the Shia school is rationality; the first chapter of the book “al-Kāfi”, which is the most important reference of the Shia school in Hadith, has collected traditions which emphasize the important role of reason and rationality. Today, the world seeks religions which are based on rationality”.
Stating that it is due to the Shia school’s reliance on rationality that so many people around the world are being attracted to it, his eminence continued: “When we look at the Arbaʿīn processions and ceremonies, we see that a large number of people from, not only the Shia school, but also from various other religions and schools take part in them. These rituals and ceremonies belong solely to the Shia school and no other creed organizes such magnificent ceremonies”.
He further stated: “every year, around twenty million people take part in the Arbaʿīn processions and these processions and their related rituals are held under conditions of complete peace and security. This is indicative of the fact that the teachings of the Shia school are so effective that they can train leaders and commanders to organize huge processions of around twenty million people and guarantee their security too”.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi stressed the fact that the best way to promote Islam and the Shia school is to practice their teachings. He also stated: “Islam has spread through the countries of southeast Asia like Indonesia. However, it has not done so through military invasion or even by means of missionaries”.
He asserted: “A long time ago Muslim merchants would travel to these countries for business and trade but they closely followed the Islamic laws of transaction in their businesses and they treated the people there kindly. So little by little the people in those countries were attracted to Islam and they finally embraced the faith happily.”
His eminence then noted: “It is through practicing the teachings of Islam that one can promote the religion effectively and in the best way. You must also respect the sanctities of other religions and denominations in Argentina and you must treat their followers kindly. Adherence to the Islamic rules of ethics and morality can attract an entire nation to embrace Islam”.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi further added: “You should pay extra attention to the youth in your region; today, the enemies are working at their full capacity to lead the youth astray and lead them towards indecencies and corrupt beliefs. However, we can protect the youth by means of the Islamic culture and teachings. An American politician once said that the day would come when the American people would wake up with the sound of Adhān”.
In the end, his eminence noted: “I hope that you try to do your best in promoting and propagating Islam properly and correctly in your country and the nearby regions, and this would be a great honor for you all”.
