Archive for category: News

Late on Friday the French capital was hit by a series of terror attacks. As a result France declared a state of emergency, its security services scrambling to understand how their country and their people became murderous radicals’ target.

An estimated 120 were killed this Friday – a tragedy which millions around the world are already mourning.

And so they should, any loss of life to violence is a tragedy and an injustice against humanity as a whole.

But as anger will certainly rise in people’s heart let us remember to direct such ire towards those who are indeed guilty.Let’s not allow racism, bigotry and intolerance dictate our actions.

If ISIS came to claim responsibility for Paris attack, the crimes of this one terror organization should not fall on Islam and its people.

Radicals might call themselves Muslims it does not make it so. Radicals might call themselves righteous, it does not make it so.

Those Wahhabi hordes, those men who espoused the violence, deviant and fascist ideology of Wahhabism positioned themselves outside the realm of Islam when they purposely rejected its tenets of peace, compassion and moderation for bloodletting.

In his forthcoming book Restoring The Balance, Dr John Andrew Morrow, a prominent scholar of Islam writes: “Islam, it should be recalled, is a religion of moderation. Muslims should be neither extremely lax nor extremely strict in their observances. As we read in the Holy Qur’an, “Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope” (2:286); “[Allah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” (22: 78); and “Allah does not want to place you in difficulty” (5: 6). As Almighty Allah warns in the Holy Qur’an, “Do not exaggerate in your religion” (4:171), a verse that can also be translated as “Do not be fanatical in your faith.” The Qur’an also warns believers to “Beware of extremism in your religion” (5:77). In short, Muslims are supposed to be “a justly balanced nation” (2:143).

Although some scholars may argue that the reproach against extremism contained in the Qur’an applies to the People of Book, the Prophet explained that it was equally applicable to Muslims. In fact, he warned his followers to “Beware of extremism in your religion for it is that which destroyed the nations which came before you” (Nasai and Ibn Majah). In another tradition, he stated that “The religious extremists [mutanatti‘un] are destroyed” (Muslim). And again, “Let it be known, the religious extremists [mutanatti‘un] are destroyed” (Abu Dawud). The Messenger of Allah also warned: “There are two groups of people from my Ummah who will not receive my intercession: oppressive rulers, and religious extremists” (Tabarani).”

Extremism and radicalism, whatever their forms and purposes are by definition anti-Islamic as they negate God’s commands to mankind, that Islam is the religion of the middle – that piety and Grace are found by subduing passion and excess.

Paris attack was commandeered and carried out by the enemies of Islam and Islam can never be found in those murderous cries radicals insist on screaming as they kill and plunder, sowing destruction as they go, striking fear at the heart of every man, woman and child.

If Almighty Allah and the Prophet denounced all forms of religious extremism, so did the Twelve Imams. As Imam ‘Ali warned, “Two types of people will be destroyed because of me: the extremist and the enemy.” He stated that “The best stance towards me belongs to those who choose a moderate way.” Imam Muhammad al-Baqir professed that “There are two categories of my Ummah which do not benefit from Islam: the extremists and those who believe in predestination.” As Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq warned, “Beware of the exaggerators lest they deviate your children.” He stated that “The smallest thing that diverts a believer from his faith is sitting next to an extremist, listening to him, and confirming his words.” As Imam ‘Ali al-Rida said, “We, the Household of Muhammad, are the middle nation. The extremists cannot reach us, and the laggard cannot keep up with us.”

Wahhabism is a cancer onto the world which needs to be eradicated. Muslims more than most have suffered under its banner. And so when you look at terror do not see Islam but see Wahhabism, the very ideology western powers insist on rubbing shoulders with when they bow to Riyadh’s will.

Islam, real Islam, the Islam which our prophets and our Imams so bravely and brilliantly taught to their communities is not the faith now practiced in Riyadh.

Wahhabism is the enemy lurking in the shadows not Islam.

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President Bashar al-Assad received on Saturday a French delegation, including a number of parliamentarians, intellectuals, and media men, headed by member of the French National Assembly Thierry Mariani.

President al-Assad affirmed that the terrorist attacks which targeted Paris couldn’t be separated from those that took place in Beirut, and what has been happening in Syria since 5 years and in other regions, adding “terrorism is one field in the world and terrorist organizations don’t recognize borders.”

“Wrong polices adopted by western states, particularly France, towards events in the region, and its ignorance of the support of a number of its allies to terrorists are reasons behind the expansion of terrorism,” President al-Assad said, pointing out to the importance of adopting new polices and taking active procedures to stop support for terrorists logistically or politically in order to overcome terrorism.

For their part, members of the visiting delegation underlined that the terrorist attacks in France yesterday proved that there is no state which would be safe from terrorism, expressing belief in the importance of unifying efforts of regional and international sides to combat it and stop this phenomenon which poses threat to the peoples of the region and world.

They showed sympathy with the suffering of the Syrian people who are subjected to a fierce terrorist war, affirming their determination to convey what they have really seen during their visit to Syria in a way that could form a French public opinion, based on realities, not on fabricated images.

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The head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said more than 800,000 Iranians have registered for pilgrimage to Karbala, Iraq, on Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussain (AS).

Saeed Ohadi highlighted the measures taken in preparation for the influx of the country’s pilgrims to the holy city of Karbala to attend Arbaeen mourning ceremonies in early December.

“Regarding the development of border infrastructure, good measures have been taken this year and (the number of) passport gates inside the country has increased five-fold,” he noted.

Ohadi also said this year, the Iraqi government has seriously called on foreign pilgrims to receive visas to go on pilgrimage to Karbala.

Earlier this month, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Expatriates’ Affairs Hassan Qashqavi also announced that the nationals seeking to participate in Arbaeen mourning ceremony in Iraq are required to have passports and visas.

“…we have to say that participating in this years’ Arbaeen ceremony (in Iraq) is not possible without obtaining passport and visa,” he noted.

Last year, around 20 million pilgrims from all over the world gathered in Karbala to attend the mourning ceremonies marking Arbaeen.

Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein is located.

More than 1.2 million pilgrims flocked to Iraq last year from Iran alone to perform the mourning rituals.

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During his Friday prayer sermon to a large and fervent crowd of believers in Qom, Ayatollah Ali-Reza Arafi stated that the most important issue after the implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the establishment of a committee to oversee the compliance of the nine recommendations mentioned by the Supreme Leader in his letter to President Hassan Rouhani.

The head of Qom’s al-Mustafa International University said that the Iranian people have appreciated and supported the authorities in aspects related to the JCPOA. “After the JCPOA is implemented, the authorities must properly comply with and pay attention to the red lines demanded by the committee,” he said.

Ayatollah Arafi added that officials should also pay attention to the establishment of the “resistance economy,” adding that the Iranian people have faced many problems, but have been patient and wise despite their suffering.

“It should be noted that the economic problems facing Iran are not trivial and we must establish a deep-rooted knowledge-based, strong, resistant and indigenous economy which is based on the demands of the Supreme Leader and the Iranian people,” he said.

Qom’s Friday prayers leader said that officials must pay attention to the conspiracies and mischief of Iran’s enemies, especially the United States, saying that the US has attacked Iran and other regional countries due to the strength of the Islamic Resistance and the Islamic Revolution, therefore they cannot be trusted.”

His Eminence added that we must not be deceived by the enemies’ appearance and smiles, saying: “The Iranian nation acts with wisdom and logic but we must also be firm, attentive and recognize the enemies who will continue their efforts to fight the Islamic resistance in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Palestine.”

The member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom stressed that enemies’ plots are attempts to destroy the minds of the Iranian people and to spread dissension and disunity among them.

Ayatollah Arafi warned that such threats must be taken seriously, especially on the eve of the February 2016 parliamentary elections. “During [past] elections, the enemies have attempted to create sedition. The Iranian people are vigilant but all parties and officials must also be vigilant and alert, especially in the post-JCPOA era,” he stressed.

In conclusion, the member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution explained that the “epic” Arba’in march is a symbol of the grandeur of pure Muhammadan Islam and stated the Iraqi government, its officials and all lovers of Imam Husayn must unite in order that the Arba’in march is commemorated in full glory. “This march portrays the greatness of our faith and the courage of Shi’ite Muslims against the enemies, especially the Takfiri terrorists,” he said.

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