Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Gives Annual Speech on Prophet’s Martyrdom Anniversary
In a speech delivered at his honourable residence in the holy city of Qom to commemorate the martyrdom of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family), Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadegh al-Hosseini al-Shirazi emphasized the fundamental role of knowledge, the cultural mission of mosques, and the individual responsibility to learn and teach religious jurisprudence.
The speech, attended by scholars, students, and various segments of the public, began with condolences to Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his blessed reappearance) on the painful martyrdom of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah upon him and his pure family). In his address, His Eminence urged all believers to keep the memory and the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet alive.
He highlighted that the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina was not just a place of worship but a center for education, training, and the development of Islamic culture. The Supreme Marja stressed the importance of reviving this role in modern mosques and Husayniyahs. He also advised that all religious centers should be places for teaching religious law and knowledge throughout the year, not just during specific occasions. He stated that worship without knowledge is not only incomplete but can also be misleading.
Furthermore, he emphasized the individual duty of every Muslim, men and women, young and old, to learn and transmit religious rulings to others, describing it as an essential obligation. He also warned against the distortion of the Prophet’s and Imam Ali’s teachings (peace be upon them both), stating that “what is against the path of the Prophet and the Commander of the Faithful is not from the path of Islam, but from the path of Muawiyah.”
At the end of his speech, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi expressed his gratitude to those who served during the months of Muharram and Safar, especially the people of Iraq for their hospitality and service to the pilgrims. He concluded by emphasizing the great importance of praying for the hastened reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him).
