‘Creation of humankind coupled with guidance’

In a lecture at an Iranian husayniyah in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Nouri-Hamadani explained that from the perspective of the Holy Quran and narrations, the creation of humankind has been coupled with guidance and said that God created everything in existence and then guided it toward goodness.

“In reality, God has given guidance to humankind for various factors so that we can remain on the straight path and worship Him,” he said.

The renowned scholar explained that the heavenly books, prophets and imams are the lights to guide mankind to happiness and added that without their guardianship, no action is acceptable to God.

He said: “In other words, the condition of acceptance of ones deeds is guardianship and thanks be to God, the people of Azerbaijan are the lovers of guardianship and of the Ahlul-Bayt.”

He said that the “evil” enemies of Islam seek to create divisions between Muslims of various sects through the creation and support of Takfiri terrorist groups, such as ISIL and Boko Haram and through deviant sects such as Wahhabism.

“Shi’as and Sunnis are brothers and through unity they can neutralize the enemies’ attempts to create divisiveness and sedition between them,” he said.

Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani praised the Azerbaijani peoples’ love and devotion for the Infallible Family of the Prophet Muhammad, saying: “Participation in mourning ceremonies during the months of Muharram and Safar have a brilliant record in this Muslim country.”

In regard to Imam Husayn’s message to not submit to any oppressor, he said that those who seek to overcome oppression must hold fast to the school of the Ahlul-Bayt as Iran did after several centuries of foreign domination by arrogant regimes. “By reviving Islam and the school of Ashura, Imam Khomeini was able to rid the [Iranian] nation from the yoke of the oppressors,” he said.

His Eminence said that Iran’s Islamic Revolution was obtained thanks to the blessings of guardianship and added that its ideals have now spread throughout the world.

The Iranian Islamic Revolution, he said, severed the arrogant powers’ domination in the country and awakened all of the oppressed and underprivileged people of the world.

“Today Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and Afghanistan are facing great insecurity, but thanks to the blessings of guardianship, there is complete security in Iran,” he added.

The revered Iranian source of emulation began his five-day trip to the predominantly Shi’a former Soviet republic on August 31, and he has visited with various religious and cultural personalities.