Arab, Islamic World Mourns Sayyed Fadlullah as Great Loss

For the second consecutive day, the death of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohamad Hussein Fadlullah made the headlines in Lebanon, as the cleric’s lovers and supporters started to feel the great loss and the big void in the Islamic scene.

In this context, the Islamic Republic of Iran received the death of Ayatollah Sayyed Fadlullah with sorrow. Iranian political leaders and religious scholars sent condolence letters to the Lebanese people, the Islamic nation, and Sayyed Fadlullah’s family for their big loss.

The Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei sent a cable of condolences to the family of Sayyed Fadlullah and his lovers in Lebanon and outside it. “This great intellectual and Mujahid had a huge impact and influence in the political and religious scenes in Lebanon,” Sayyed Khamenei said. “We won’t forget his numerous favors and blessings throughout the years,” his eminence added.

Sayyed Khamenei noted that the late Sayyed has always backed and sponsored the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, noting at the same time how Sayyed Fadlullah was the loyal and close friend to the Islamic Republic of Iran and its regime. “Sayyed Fadlullah was loyal to the path of the Islamic Revolution and proved this through words and actions throughout the Islamic Republic’s thirty years,” his eminence added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a letter of condolence to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman over Sayyed Fadlullah’s death. In his message, the Iranian president expressed his deepest sympathy for the people and government of Lebanon over the tragic death of the Lebanese top religious figure. He also reiterated that Sayyed Fadlullah’s valuable lifetime efforts which caused national unity and more solid resistance in Lebanon will be remembered by the country’s history for good.

For his part, Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran Sheikh Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani mourned Ayatollah Sayyed Fadlullah, saying that his eminence was an ideal fit to the saying (Hadith) that says “The death of a religious scholar causes such a void in Islam that nothing can fill up.” Rafsanjani stressed that the great deceased was an ideal struggler scholar, and the number of assassination attempts he faced for his path are the biggest honor.

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in turn issued a statement consoling the struggler scholar’s death, emphasizing that he has spent his blessed life in favor of Islam and the Lebanese people. He considered that Sayyed Fadlullah used to observe the situations with a critical view and bright mind, and while enlightening Muslims at the right times he used to build an obstacle for the enemy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also sent his condolence letters for Lebanese officials and figures, including Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Foreign Minister Ali Shami, son of the departed, Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, expressing his condolences to the Lebanese government and people, and Sayyed Fadlullah’s family.
Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) lamented in a statement the death of Ayatollah Sayyed Fadlullah with great affection and sorrow. “Sayyed Fadlullah’s death represents a great death to the Islamic nation, where he lived loyal in serving his country and his nation’s issues, presenting a symbol in rapprochement between sects,” a statement issued by the OIC said. “With his death, the Islamic nation loses one of the most prominent Islamic figures, who played a great role in supporting the Islamic solidarity,” the statement added.

The head of Hamas Political Bureau, Khaled Meshaal, sent an obituary letter to Sayyed Ali Fadlullah, lamenting the loss of his father, Ayatollah Sayyed Fadlullah. “The dear deceased was one of the nation’s special and great figures, with his knowledge, grace, moderation, mediation, forgiveness and openness to others, in addition to his courageous stances regarding the nation’s issues, especially towards the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Zionist struggle,” he said in his letter. “His eminence was one of the greatest symbols and scholars defending the choice of resistance and Jihad against the occupation, in support of the Palestinian strife and our people’s right to freedom, liberty and liberation.”

In the same context, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh sent on Monday a cable of condolences to his Lebanese counterpart President Michel Sleiman over the death of Sayyed Fadlullah.

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also sent a cable of condolences to the family of the late Lebanese cleric Sayyed Fadlullah. In the cable, the Bahraini expressed his sincere condolences to the family members, praying Allah Almighty to rest his soul in eternal peace. King Hamad also praised Sayyed Fadlullah’s scientific and religious contributions in the service of Islam and Muslims.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in turn sent a cable of condolences to the family of Sayyed Fadlullah. In his cable, the Kuwaiti Emir prayed to the Almighty Allah to have mercy on the soul of the deceased.

Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem Mohammed Al-Khorafi also sent a cable of condolences to Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri consoling him on the death of Sayyed Fadllah. Al-Khorafi expressed in his cable his heartfelt sorrow on the news, asking Allah Almighty to have mercy on the soul of the deceased. The Kuwaiti Speaker also sent similar cable to the family of Fadlullah.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent in turn a cable of condolences to President Sleiman on the death of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlullah.