Religious Authorities
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi writes letter to Muftis on Mina incident
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has written a letter to the grand muftis and scholars of the Muslim world in regard to the necessity of pursuing the Hajj tragedy which occurred in Mina.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has written a letter to the grand muftis and scholars of the Muslim world in regard to the necessity of pursuing the Hajj tragedy which occurred in Mina.
Considering that several weeks have passed since the dreadful disaster of Mina occurred without any serious reaction on the part of most of the Muslim scholars, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has voiced his readiness to hold scientific and expert conferences to find a solution to this problem.
His Eminence said: “I hope that the Muftis of all Muslim countries as well as great Muslim scholars will join us to take effective actions in this regard so as to fulfill their responsibility before God the Almighty” in a letter to the grand muftis and scholars of the Muslim world in regard to the necessity of pursuing the Hajj tragedy which occurred in Mina.
The revered source of emulation quoted the Holy Quran: “…So give good news to My servants who listen to the word [of God] and follow the best [interpretation] of it. They are the ones whom God has guided, and it is they who possess intellect” [39:17-18].
He said that this disaster (apart from political issues and relationship between various countries) has created a responsibility for all Muslim scholars and religious authorities, wherever they are, hence, it is necessary to try to find a solution to prevent similar catastrophes from happening again in the future. However, weeks have passed since this tragic incident happened while there has been no serious and significant reaction on the part of Muslim scholars, and this is all while the Prophet Muhammad said: “A person who does not attend to the problems and the sufferings of Muslims is not a Muslim.”
In another part of the letter, His Eminence noted: “The life of a single Muslim is extremely valuable and thus must be protected. Anyone who saves the life of one person, has, in effect, saved the lives of all the people of the world, let alone the lives of thousands of Muslims who were engaged in a great act of worship such as the Hajj rituals. Considering the scope of the tragedy that happened, is not it wise to take necessary measures to solve this problem once and for all, and prevent such a great catastrophe and its adverse consequences from occurring again in the future?”
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi noted that in today’s world where, sometimes, so many people voice their condemnation for the killing of one person with a huge coverage of the incident in the media, what will the people of the world say about us if Muslim scholars remain silent regarding an incident that left thousands of Muslims dead (based on the unanimous testimony of numerous eyewitnesses)? “Will they not judge us Muslims as a people who have no regard for the lives of their fellow Muslims?” he said.
Referring to the assertions of some of the Saudi scholars, the revered source of emulation stated: “Blaming this great disaster on ‘the divine will and providence’ to avoid assuming the responsibility for it is, in itself, another great catastrophe, which can undermine the true teachings of Islam regarding the issue of “divine will and providence.”
Is it not true that, if a dangerous disease breaks out among Muslims, we must act to treat it? What sound mind would let a dangerous disease claim the lives of thousands and then associate it with “divine will and providence?!” (while this is not the way that “divine will and providence” have been depicted in the Quran and the Sunnah; that is to say, the true meaning of “divine will and providence” is that God has given us the responsibility, within the limits of our abilities and the actions that we can afford to take, to make decisions and act to solve problems, in which case if we evade our responsibilities we will be held accountable by God (His Eminence also promised to prepare a comprehensive treatise regarding the scope and the meaning of the issue of “divine will and providence” later on).
After explaining the four responsibilities that we all have regarding this disaster, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi noted: “Based on my religious duties and my responsibility as a human being, I hereby announce that I am prepared to invite the prominent Muslim scholars from everywhere in the Muslim world, if they are willing to do so, to work with each other to solve this problem. In this regard, I propose to hold scientific and legal meetings and conferences (away from all political issues) in Qom or in the capitals of other Muslim countries, to investigate this incident and its adverse consequences.”
“I hope that the Muftis of all Muslim countries as well as great Muslim scholars will join us to take effective actions in this regard so as to fulfill their responsibility before God the Almighty,” he concluded.
Grand Ayatollah Wahid Khorasani: 'House of Saud, Traitors of the Two Holy Mosques'
Grand Ayatollah Khorasani stressed that the problem is that the so-called “Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques” in Makkah and Medina are in reality the “Traitors of the Two Holy Mosques.”
In a meeting with Sayyed Hasan Qazizadeh Hashemi, the Iranian Minister of Health, Grand Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Hussein Wahid Khorasani, pointed out that those who lost their lives while in the holy Ihram clothes were on the path toward God and who died while in the Land of Revelation will be given a lofty position in the hereafter. Such a lofty status is incomprehensible and unexplainable to us.
“This is not just a promise, it is guaranteed by God Almighty and these words and interpretation in regard to the Guests of God [Hajj pilgrims] are clearly stated by Holy Quran,” His Eminence explained.
The renowned source of emulation stressed that the Hajj pilgrims have obtained a great blessing and the survivors are considered righteous and remainders.
Ayatollah Khorasani stressed that the problem is that the so-called “Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques” in Makkah and Medina are in reality the “Traitors of the Two Holy Mosques.”
He explained that when a country issues a visa, they agree to protect the applicants’ life and Saudi Arabia should not be negligent in this respect.
His Eminence also said that stating that burying the bodies of victims of the Mina incident in Makkah or Medina is something good and insisted that returning the victims’ bodies to Iran is not necessary.[1]
Grand Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani urges Islamic unity
Grand Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani said that Islamic countries should collaborate in regards to hajj arrangements and they should increase relations with each other so that they can successfully review this issue.
Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani, while meeting with health minister, has pointed towards Mina incident and said that this tragedy was great for Muslims. Therefore, we must be prudent so that it would not happen in future.
He further said that Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries must make planning in this regard so that such type of tragic incidents do not happen in future.
He, while emphasizing upon the requirement of proper management of hajj affairs, said that hajj organizers must make efforts to organize the hajj rituals properly and they should focus on religious principles for this spiritual program.
Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani added that incident of Mina was highly tragic. Therefore, we must try to prevent such type of incidents by proper management.[2]
Ayatollah Nouri Hamedani: Mina catastrophe defamed Al-Saud
Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani said on Wednesday that Mina catastrophe defamed Al Saud regime, Wahabism and those claiming to be the custodians of holy shrines in Mecca.
Aal –e Saud regime has not revealed the exact number of casualties to save its face and only tried to lower the figures but the pressure exerted by world nations forced it to admit the deaths of 4,000 Haj pilgrims.
Mina catastrophe brought sorrow and dismay among world Muslims and the worst of all is that the Saudi regime avoids delivering bodies of stamped victims, he said.
All should know the real nature of Al-Saud that claims to be the custodian of holy shrines, he said.
The incident proved the mismanagement and incapability of Saudi officials in handling Haj rituals, said Ayatollah Hamedani.[3]
Ayatollah Sobhani: Mina incident cannot be forgotten
Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani at the start of his lecture of jurisprudence in Azam mosque while pointing towards the martyrdom of thousands of pilgrims said that this incident can never be forgotten because it a tragedy of whole Muslim Ummah. This has left all Muslims in a state of mourning.
Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani at the start of his lecture on jurisprudence in A'zam Mosque while making reference to the martyrdom of thousands of pilgrims said that this incident can never be forgotten because it the tragedy of the entire Muslim Ummah. This has left all Muslims in a state of shock and grief.
He further said that even if Aal-e Saud apologize for the next several years about this incident the tragedy will not be subside.
He said that Allah (SWT) will take revenge from Aal-e Saud.
He said that the house of Allah (SWT) which is the place of peace has been transformed into mass grave on the day of Eid-ul-Azha and Allah (SWT) will take revenge from the House of Saud and those responsible for the tragedy.[4]
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli: Holy Ka'bah should be taken from grip of House of Saud
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli said that the “incompetent” House of Saudi should know that the Ka’bah is not the pyramids of Egypt and belongs to all Muslims who pray toward it throughout the day and should be taken from the grip of the House of Saud.
In a meeting with Sayyed Hasan Qazizadeh Hashemi, the Iranian Minister of Health, Grand Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli referred to the massacre of pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage in 1987 and said when the word “Hajj“” is heard, one now thinks of the slaughter 402 innocent pilgrims in Saudi Arabia which has created an old wound in the hearts of Muslims.
The renowned Iranian source of emulation emphasized the incompetence of the House of Saud, adding that the 1987 Hajj tragedy is proof that the House of Saud is not competent to be the “Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques.”
“If in this same year, the Holy Land was taken from the hands of the incompetent House of Saud we would not have witnessed this years’ tragedy in Mina,” he said.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli said that the House of Saudi should know that the Ka’bah is not the pyramids of Egypt and it belongs to all Muslims who pray toward it throughout the day.
He explained that Ka’bah, theqiblahof all Muslims, has been captured by the House of Saud and added that the pilgrims to this House of God died there while answering the call of God. The Saudi authorities claim that this tragedy was a mistake and that they intend to give the survivors blood-money in compensation. “This incident was semi-intentional and the Saudis must give them more compensation that that required from a mistake,” he stated.
He stressed that it is necessary that Makkah’s Grand Mosque is liberated from the claws of the House of Saud and the organization of the Hajj ceremonies, in which Muslims of various nationalities, languages and cultures participate, should be managed by an international Islamic organization.
His Eminence referred to the recent Israeli attacks on Palestinians, saying the Israeli attacks have killed many civilians but Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi clergy made no mention of this incident during Friday prayers’ sermons.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli also condemned the Saudi-led war on their impoverished neighbouring country, Yemen, explaining: “The House of Saud is directly dominated by the United States and Israel. In broad daylight, they attack innocent people and recently bombed a wedding celebration, where even children were not spared.”
The renowned Quranic exegete advised that all efforts must be applied to bring the bodies of those killed in the Mina tragedy back to Iran. “In case this is not possible, the family of the pilgrims should not be upset that their loved ones are buried in Makkah, because it is a holy land where the prophets walked,” he said.
He urged scholars in the seminaries and universities to come up with a plan to take the Two Holy Shrines out of the hands of incompetent House of Saud. “Muslims throughout the world must be united in this action and we hope that God Almighty will bestow a painful punishment on the House of Saud,” he said.
Al-Khalifa congratulated Saudis for organizing successful Hajj
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said all the more strange that the Bahraini Al Khalifa dynasty congratulated the Saudi’s for organizing a successful Hajj. “Is this not ignorance and stupidity?"
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said all the more strange that the Bahraini Al Khalifa dynasty congratulated the Saudi’s for organizing a successful Hajj. “Is this not ignorance and stupidity?"
During his advanced jurisprudence class at Qom’s Grand Mosque, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi stated that there is no doubt that the mismanagement of the Hajj pilgrimage by the Saudi authorities caused this tragedy and added that the accident was preventable but the authorities either did not want to or could not take the necessary steps to prevent it.
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi referred to the Saudi regime’s mishandling of this incident, and explained that such an incident of this extent is rare and unique: “Unfortunately, instead of first sympathizing with the family of the bereaved, failing to determine a group to investigate the cause of the accident are punish the offenders and compensating the victims for their losses or adopting measures (even with the help of others) so that such incidents are not repeated in the future, they said ‘this was due to divine fate and destiny which are inevitable!’ This is pure mismanagement!”
He criticized the Saudi’s excuse, saying: “Can we remove road controls and say the death toll from the accidents that will occur are caused by divine fate and destiny?”
The teacher in the Islamic Seminary of Qom explained that the House of Saud have not understood the meaning of divine fate and destiny, saying: “Even worse is that the Saudi Grand Mufti [Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah Al al-Shaykh] had stated that some pilgrims want to be killed in Mina and to reach a high station [in the hereafter] and put their selves in harm’s way."
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said that if they had planned for such incidents and dealt properly [with the results] of this tragedy, it would not have been so severe.
“This incident was very unfortunate and surprising,” he added.
He said all the more strange that the Bahraini Al Khalifa dynasty congratulated the Saudi’s for organizing a successful Hajj. “Is this not ignorance and stupidity? We want them to come to their senses and to reform their approach,” he said.[5]
The Iranian scholar emphasized that the Hajj pilgrimage belongs to the entire Islamic community and said one of the adverse effects of this issue is the attack on the sanctity of the Hajj which unfortunately, brought about great damages, adding: “These losses cannot be simply and easily compensated for.”
In conclusion, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi expressed hope that God will compensate [the victims] in different ways for this great loss to the Islamic world.
House of Saud source of corruption, sedition in Muslim world
Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani stated that the House of Saud is the source of most of the corruption and sedition in the Islamic world and stressed that the Saudi attack on Yemen, which has killed innocent people there and revealed the true nature of the evil Saudi rulers.
Speaking at his first jurisprudence class of the new academic term, Ayatollah Hussein Nouri-Hamadani stated the duty of religious scholars is to deal with deviations and innovations in religion and added that most Muslim countries only carry the name of Islam.
“They build mosques, but there is no guidance in them,” he said.
His Eminence criticized Saudi rulers’ allegiance and loyalty to the arrogant superpowers and to Israel, and said that as a result of their misinterpretations and deviant thinking, Saudi rulers are the source of corruption and sedition in the Muslim world and rule with tyranny.
The renowned source of emulation also referred to the 1987 incident in Makkah where pilgrims to the House of God were massacred by Saudi Arabian security forces during the Hajj period and honoured the martyrs of this incident.
Referring to Imam Ruhollah Khomeini’s historical message on this occasion, Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani noted several points and stressed on the importance of the Hajj pilgrimage, saying that the Hajj is a divine duty which has political, social and cultural dimensions.
He added that the late Imam emphasized that the political dimension of Hajj is the most neglected of all dimensions.
His Eminence explained that Hajj is a symbol of unity and solidarity of the Islamic ummah and said that Muslims should unite to solve the problems they face and thwart the enemies’ plots.
Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani added that the House of Saud have attacked Yemen and have killed innocent men, women and children over the past five months.
He added that this brutal bombardment shows their true and evil nature and has proved that they have deviated far from Islamic religious teachings.
He added that all Muslims should stand with the people of Yemen as our religion orders us to help any oppressed people against the enemies.
“We condemn the attack on Yemen and stand with the oppressed people of this country,” he said.
Ayatollah Noori Hamedani further explained that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, had stressed that there was no difference between the last summers’ Israel attack on the Gaza Strip and Saudi Arabia’s current bombardment of Yemen.
“Just as we supported the people of Gaza, we support the Yemeni people,” he added.
He also condemned the recent Israeli aggression on Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque, saying: “We condemn this incident and are surprised at the silence of the Muslim world and Islamic scholars.”
Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani said we are surprised that some Muslim scholars and rulers of Muslim countries are silent in the face of this brutal crime. “al-Aqsa Mosque belongs to all Muslims and we should be united and harmonious in order to save it from the clutches of the Zionists,” he said.[6]