Grand Ayatollah Shirazi: Islamic nations’ crises stem from abandoning divine governance
The Supreme Religious Authority, Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Sadiq al-Husseini al-Shirazi, stated that the crises facing Islamic countries today—particularly in housing, poverty, unemployment, low marriage rates, and rising divorce cases—are rooted in the abandonment of divine governance and neglect of prophetic justice.
In remarks published on his official website under the title “The Beacon of Knowledge”, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized that failure to adhere to Islamic laws and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, is the core reason for the socio-economic hardships plaguing Muslim societies.
He questioned why Islamic countries suffer from housing shortages, why 80% of people in some nations live below the poverty line, and why youth struggle to marry, while vast lands remain idle. These, he said, are the consequences of ignoring the laws established by the Prophet and his household, peace be upon them.
The Grand Marja also strongly criticized government land monopolies, arguing that land should be a public resource managed for the benefit of the people, not state property. He warned that the ruler’s role in Islam is to serve society, not dominate its resources.
He noted that even Western nations face deep humanitarian and economic problems despite apparent progress, because true happiness can only be achieved through the implementation of Islamic principles in all aspects of life.
Al-Shirazi called on the entire world—Muslims and non-Muslims alike—to return to the Qur’an and the life of the Prophet and his pure household, describing this as the only path to stability, prosperity, and lasting happiness. He referenced the Hadith of the Two Weighty Things (Hadith al-Thaqalayn), in which the Prophet guaranteed protection from misguidance for those who adhere to the Qur’an and his family.
