Grand Ayatollah Shirazi urges Shia community to introduce world to Imam Hussein and Ahlul-Bayt by any means possible, including making film

Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadiq Hosseini Shirazi gave a speech on the Night of the Lonely Occasion of Aba Abdullah al-Hussein, as in previous years.

He pointed out some of the virtues and exclusive characteristics of Sayyid al-Shuhada, and presented guidelines to the Shiites of the world and the officials of Islamic countries.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, referring to a group of people who have chosen a different path from that of Ahlul-Bayt during their lives, but have a fortunate end of life, mentioned Hurr ibn Yazid al-Riahi as a clear example of such group.

He emphasized that if Seyyed al-Shahada had not accepted the repentance of Hurr, he would have been in the ranks of Ibn Ziyad, Ibn Saad and others.

He went on to say that if a war had broken out at the very beginning of the arrival of Imam Hussain’s army in Karbala and due to al-Hurr’s blocking his move, a number of soldiers on both sides would probably have been killed.

For this reason, al-Hurr himself said during his repentance that, O God, I shook the hearts of your saints.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized that al-Hurr was a person of heaven, his repentance was accepted and had a fortunate end of life. He pointed out the effect of some of his behavior towards Imam Hussain and further asked all the believers, especially the youth, to introduce Imam Hussain’s unique and magnanimous treatment of al-Hurr to the world, and to even make detailed movies about it.

He went on to say that Imam Hussain allowed all his companions except Abalfazl al-Abbas the “fight-to-death-in-the-field” permission, adding that, at the beginning of the arrival of the al-Hurr army, whose number reached a thousand people, Abalfazl al-Abbas, peace be upon him, would have been enough to defeat all the enemy troops.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi mentioned the tradition of trial as the most important purpose of the Almighty God for mankind. He further described how the caravan of Imam Hussein travelled, how the companions of Imam Hussain joined from Makkah to Karbala and how Imam Hussain dealt with the armies of al-hurr, watering them and their horses.

He considered them as one of the unique stories of history that the world should be aware of.

He continued by referring to a narration of Imam Reza, peace be upon him, who said that if people know the virtues of our words, they will convert to us, and the words of the Holy Prophet that Hussain is mine and I am Hussain, to emphasize that the spread of Islam, prayer, fasting, and all other matters of Islam are due to the blessing of Imam Hussain’s existence and his mourning ceremony.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi recommended to the government of Iraq and all Islamic governments that the passport and all expenses related to the pilgrimage of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, should be free, especially during the days of Arbaeen.

He also advised the governments and big businessmen to build hotels, provide transport and other services to Arbaeen pilgrims, and urged them to even try and make them free.

He said that it is not befitting for Aba Abdillah’s pilgrims to experience inappropriate conditions in heat and cold, without accommodation or facilities, warning that if such happens, the fault is directed at Muslims and Islamic governments.