Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.

The representative of the Leading Marja’iya in Europe visits the Mubaligheen and Imams of the centers in the United Kingdom at their residence in the Holy city of Najaf and advises them that; the Ziyara of the Zaair to the Massomeen (a.s.) should not just be a formal and a routine matter, rather the Zaair should sense the prominence of the Massom and his closeness to Allah Almighty, and be inspired by and interact with the flawlessness bestowed upon him by Allah Almighty.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the Holy Prophet’s birthday (s.a.w.w.) and that of Imam Ja’far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq’s (a.s.), a group of Mubaligheen and Imams of centers in the United Kingdom visited the holy shrines in Iraq. They were hosted by the A’taba, Al-Alawiya in the Holy city of Najaf and the A’taba Al- Abbassiya in the Holy city of Karbala .

His Eminence Sayyid Al-Kashmiri visited them at their residence at the host’s quarters of Imam Ali (a.s.) in Najaf – conveying to them the salutations and affection of His Eminence, the Leading Marja’ (long may he live).

He stressed that scholars should communicate and consult with each other, such that guarantees the interests of Muslims. Also, to strive for unity of Muslims, uniting them through love and affection, and for rapprochement and harmony between Islamic sects and religious faiths residing in their country.

He also called for Momineen to help each other, to love for others what they loves for themselves and detest for others what they detest for themselves, in accordance with the words of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.): ‘O’ son let yourself be the judge between you and others, love for others what you love for yourself and vis-versa, and not do wrong as you do not like to be wronged, and do good as you love good to be done to you. Resent from yourself that which you would from others, and be pleased with people as you would like them to be pleased with you) and similar such hadiths in this regard.

He also called for more attention to be paid in educating children in the Islamic community, to preserve their religious and ideological identity, and protect them from influences from deviant environments and misleading passions, which are spread by mischievous people here and there by means of communication - to distort the image of Muhammadi Islam, its protectors.

In another aspect of his speech, he stressed upon the importance of their visit to these holy shrines, which Allah Almighty has glorified and honoured, and that they benefit from the sanctity of the one they’ve visited, because we believe that they are alive with their Lord, receiving sustenance, and that they hear our Salams and answer us, even if this is obscured from our hearing.

His Eminence added: The Ziyara of Imam Ali (a.s.) is authenticated by the narrations reported from the Prophet (s.a.w.w) and the imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.), including what was reported from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w): (Whoever visits Ali (a.s.) has visited me, and whoever loves him, loves me, and whoever dislikes him has disliked me, inform this to your people on my behalf, and whoever comes to him as a visitor has come to me, and I am his rewarder on the Day of Resurrection, and the Angel Jibra’eil and the righteous believerers.”

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: (Whoever visits the grave of the Commander of the Faithful, knowing his of rights, [and being] neither arrogant nor conceited, Allah will write for him the reward of one hundred thousand martyrs, and Allah will forgive him his previous and future sins, and he will be in safety, and his judgment will be made easy for him, and the angels will receive him, and when he departs the angels will accompany him to his house, if he falls ill, they will visit him, and if he dies, they will accompany him with forgiveness -istighfar- to his grave.)

And he (a.s.) said: (There’s grave next to Kufan ​​, where no distressed person ever came to and prayed two or four Rakats unless Allah relieved him of his distress and fulfilled his need) and in another hadith: (None will resort to him with a handicap unless they are cured). This and other hadiths mentioned on the merits of visiting the Prophet (s.a.w.w.) and the Imams of his family (a.s.)

It is better for the visitor that his visit should not be formal and routine, but rather it should be a practical visit so that he feels the prominence of the Massom and his closeness to Allah Almighty, and be inspired by and interacts with his life-history, morals, worship, courage and devotion for the sake of Allah, and not be an example of the Almighty’s saying: (( And be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted strands the yarn she has spun, after it has become strong. Nor take your oaths to practice deception between yourselves, lest one party should be more numerous than another: for Allah will test you by this; and on the day of Judgment, He will certainly make clear to you (the truth of) wherein ye disagree)) Holy Qur’an chapter16 verse 92.

His Eminence also referred to the importance of the Hawza, which dates back to more than a thousand years, where hundreds of Maraj’ and thousands of students have graduated from and who spread throughout the world to preach and call to Allah and establish truth and abolish falsehood. The Hawza today is flourishing in its prime by the presence of the Leading Marja’iya and Maraj’ and Ullema in the holy city of Najaf.

Lastly, His Eminence prayed for the attendees for more success and achievement to do what the the Almighty has commanded