Pilgrimage, public diplomacy of Muslims

News Agency of Hawzah

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Head of Astan Quds Razavi’s Center for International affairs said, “Pilgrimage have to be considered as the public diplomacy of Muslims in all ages.["]

Hawzah News Agency (Mashhad, Iran) - According to Astan News, in a meeting with a group of custodians of holy sites in India, Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin Muhammad Ali Movahhedi Mohassel stated, “The owner of this Holy Shrine is so great for God that success of his pilgrimage has not been achieved by anybody and we are so happy that you, custodians of holy places in India, have got such an opportunity”.

He continued, “We do believe that God’s good people are all alive, but we do not have the ability and comprehension to see them. As it has been mentioned in the permission entrance of the Razavi Holy Shrine, God’s representatives (Imams and Prophets) are alive and able to hear our worships and prayers and they can also respond to our greetings. It is therefore clear that the more we enjoy pure spirit, the more we will be able to take advantage of these great men and this vicinity will, be more enjoyable”.

Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Msulim Movahedi Mohassel stressed, “In a world in which evils use various types of tools to deviate men, existence of such great and sacred greaves are very important”. He also said, “Taking advantage of such sacred places, people get themselves closer to the reality and those who are servants of these holy places are in fact serving all humanity”.

He stated, “These divine men and good people will be source and origin of ample blessings right now as they were during their world life. During their lifetime, these people were a kind of mercy and blessings for the sinners and faithful people and since they have departed the world, all sects of people have been eager to be in their vicinity, to shape contact with them, and to show their devotion to these great men. Fortunately, no one has succeeded, throughout the history, to exclude love and affection toward household of the Apostle of God (S.A.W.) out of people’s heart”.

Hujjat al Islam wa al-Muslimin Movahedi Mohassel stated, “Honorable people were always righteous and virtuous throughout their lives and God has put their affection in the hearts of people”.

He reiterated, “Proud history of lovers of the Household of the Apostle of God (S.A.W.) is full of bitter incidents. Pilgrimage process has fortunately become easy for the lovers of the household of the Apostle of God (S.A.W.) and Astan Quds Razavi is trying to facilitate pilgrims’ trips in addition to creating a divine and spiritual atmosphere for them”.

Movahedi Mohassel said, “This great and big complex has been formed to serve people in various areas and we have repeatedly seen that even those who are not affluent has devoted some or all part of their properties to this Holy Shrine. Astan Quds Razavi is doing this mission under God’s attention, special attendance of owner of this shrine, and also endeavors of various groups of people”.

Emphasizing that a main duty of Astan Quds Razavi is to protect endowments and donations in a right and appropriate way and also to try to expand these donations, he said, “Islam’s enemies were trying to make divisions among Muslims through ethnic plots and they fought with almost everything leading to the unity and integration among Muslims. One of these themes with which enemies have been fighting is pilgrimage which is conducive to unity and contact among Muslims. It is in fact Muslims’ public diplomacy during history”.

Head of Astan Quds Razavi’s center for international affairs said, “God’s enemies are looking for destroying and weakening rich culture of pilgrimage. They are trying, by creating deviated cultures of thinking, to fight pilgrimage. Therefore, our duty as servants and custodians of Holy Shrines is to stop these plots. In line with this mission, we are striving to boost this unity through more connections among world’s Holy Shrines.

He announced that Astan Quds Razavi’s center for international affairs will hold world Holy Shrines’ forum. He also said, “Holding this forum, we are trying to invite custodians of world Holy Shrines to the Razavi Illuminated Shrine. This enormous gathering is done to exchange various sides’ experiences”.

Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin Movahedi Mohassel reiterated, “With respect to the presence of over thirty million pilgrims in Mashhad per year, possessing over 1 million square meters of sacred premises, and tens of affiliated institutes, Astan Quds Razavi is seeking for an exchange of experience from Razavi servants to the world Holy Shrines”.

End.