Sayyed Morteza Bakhtiari, in a lecture before the sermons of the congregational prayer of Mashhad, arguing that this year Karamat Ten-day Celebrations point to “Your habit is goodness and your nature is beneficence”, and it is titled “Munificent Service”, highlighted a part of Imam Reza’s (A.S.) character’s favors and said, “The life of Imam Reza (A.S.) can be examined from a variety of aspects. The septet worshiping, scientific, moral, economic, political, cultural, and social conduct of this magnanimous Imam is a model for the officials and all classes of our society.”
Highlighting that fighting against the inner and outer demons, the oppressors and the hegemony, corruption and deviation were the prominent components of the life of Imam Reza (A.S.) he stated, “Those who cannot succeed in the struggle against the inner devil, and against the desires, would not resist in struggle against the hegemony and their threats.”
“Those are able to stand against the hegemony such as the America, and do not fear their threats, who could leash the inner devil and make the tireless struggle of Imam Reza (A.S.) and the Infallible Imams (A.S.) their role model,” he added.
He emphasized that the life of Imam Reza (A.S.) should be the model of the officials in the Islamic government and said, “The meaning of responsibility in the Islamic government is being the servant of the people and not consider ourselves higher or above others.”
“The principle of equality of human rights is based on the teachings of Imam Reza (A.S.) and according to Razavi teachings, regarding the social justice, the authorities of the Islamic government are equal in rights to the people of the society,” he reiterated.
Pilgrimage: Shi’ite World Soft Power
Bakhtiari, further presented a brief performance report of one-year measures of Astan Quds Razavi in 2017 and pointed to the second paragraph of the Supreme Leader’s decree in appointing the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi and arguing that serving the pilgrims of the Razavi Holy Shrine, in particular the impoverished and the needy is emphasized in this decree said, “Today, the issue of pilgrimage is the soft power of the Shi’ite world and the enemies are severely affected thereof; however, thanks to divine blessings, in 2017 more than 30 million pilgrims attended the Razavi Illuminated Court.”
“The pilgrimage is insightful concerning the cultural and political matters and the factor to intellectual life of Islam and the Qur’an; there are aspects to fight the hegemony and seeking rights in the context of pilgrimage, and facilitating the pilgrimage is of the priorities and emphases of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi,” he added.
Referring to the establishment of the Astan Quds Razavi’s relief deputy, in the new era, he stated, “This deputy was assigned to identify the first-time pilgrims with the aid of Basij, revolutionary forces and country’s relief organizations and provide the conditions for their attendance to the Razavi Holy Shrine.”
“Before the holy month of Ramadan this year, more than 700,000 first-time pilgrims attended the holy Mashhad” Deputy Custodian of the Astan Quds Razavi asserted.
“The theoretical foundations of pilgrim from source to source led to the development of the concept of servant, service, and the served in Astan Quds Razavi. Based on this concept, serving the Imam Reza (A.S.) is not limited to the Razavi Holy Shrine, and all devotees of Imam Reza (A.S.) will be able to be servants by serving the deprived and pilgrims,” he said, stating that Astan Quds Razavi considers the pilgrim from source to source.
“The first phase of Razavi pilgrim city was opened in 2017 in order to serve pilgrims in the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.); the first phase has 700 suites with a capacity to accommodate 4000 pilgrims, which is currently only provide services to the first-time pilgrims free of charge, and the municipality of Mashhad has also promised the construction of a subway from this pilgrim city to the Holy Shrine,” he enunciated.
55% Progression of the Razavi Pilgrims City Second Phase
He stated that by completing all phases of pilgrim city, it is possible to accommodate twenty thousand pilgrims at the center and said, “The second phase of the pilgrim city, having 700 suites has had 55% progress. The endowment document of this pilgrim city, which dates back to 500 years ago is dedicated to the pilgrims’ rest.”
Deputy Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, further announced the opening ceremony of the first phase of Razavi pilgrim city over the next week and stated, “This center will be opened in the vicinity of the Shrine coincident with Karamat Razavi Ten-day Celebrations.”
Providing Medical Services to One Million Pilgrims at Dar al-Shafa
He introduced hosting more than sixty thousand pilgrims who passed the night around the Holy Shrine without suitable accommodation and providing medical services to about one million pilgrims in Dar al-Shafa of Imam Reza (A.S.) of other services of Astan Quds Razavi in year 2017.
Pointing out the increase in the reception of pilgrims at the Imam Reza’s (A.S.) Guesthouse he expressed, “Regarding the blessed food of the Imam, there are vows and endowments documents in Astan Quds Razavi, which in the last two years by the favor of the Lord and with the efforts made, we have witnessed the growth of pilgrims’ reception by the Guesthouse.”
“Today, the number of the meals in the Hazrat Guesthouse reaches 20,000, and God willing, in the near future by construction of a central kitchen outside the Holy Shrine the cooking capacity reaches to 50,000 meals,” he reiterated.
Bakhtiari highlighted the reception of pilgrims for two meals of breakfast and dinner as other measures of Astan Quds Razavi in 2017.
Referring to paragraph four of the Supreme Leader’s decree in appointing the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi he said, “It says ‘Astan Quds is a huge cultural capacity that can influence the public atmosphere of the country and the Muslim world; it is worthy to make the most of this unparalleled capacity to promote the Qur’anic education and the school of the Infallible Imams (A.S.) through the assistance of the cultural experts.”
Bakhtiari, also pointing out that the core of all activities of the sacred institution is the field of cultural activities, remarked, “The Manifestation of all efforts and actions of Astan Quds Razavi and serving the pilgrims in the Razavi sacred places, is disseminating the Razavi teachings and cultural activities.”
“In 2017, more than 6,000 religious ceremonies were held for Iranian and non-Iranian pilgrims in the Razavi Holy Shrine, 15,000 circles of knowledge were held and more than 5,000 active cultural associations were identified throughout the country and linked to Astan Quds Razavi,” he added.
Formation of 1885 Razavi Family Organizations
The Deputy Custodian of the Astan Quds Razavi further announced the formation of the 1885 Razavi family organizations, focused upon women in the country and said, “Today, the issue of chastity and hijab as the basis of consolidation of the family is hard-pressed and attacked by hegemony, in this regard, Astan Quds Razavi, with the aim of developing the culture of chastity and hijab has established 1885 Razavi family organizations throughout the country.”
He went on to mention that 6500 special young couples’ workshops were held by Astan Quds Razavi in 2017, and commented, “During these periods, topics have been taught about couples living on the basis of Islamic teachings over the subject of monotheistic life.”
He mentioned utilization of more than fifty specialized and public libraries, attracting 50,000 members, 21% increase in student enrollment at Imam Reza’s (A.S.) schools equivalent to 6620 students, qualitative and quantitative development of Mahd al-Reza, utilization of gardens in Mashhad, Kerman and Tehran to hold cultural and educational camps for the youth and adolescents, publishing 644 books in more than 4 million copies, providing four million cultural products, holding an exhibition of Iranian products, establishing a playground with the purpose of teaching Razavi conduct to the next generation, holding scientific meetings etc., among the measures of Astan Quds Razavi in 2017.
Establishing Health Monitoring Bases at Holy Shrine Entrances
Bakhtiari referred to some programs of Astan Quds Razavi during the Karamat Ten-day Celebrations and expressed, “Holding celebrations of the birthday anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.) in 4 areas of the Holy Shrine, holy Mashhad, Islamic Iran and the international arena and performing Under the Shade of the Sun celebrations, and the setup of the monitoring bases of pilgrims’ health at the entrance of the Holy Shrine, are of the programs in Karamat Ten-day Celebrations.”
Bakhtiari in the final section of his speech, pointing to the third paragraph of the Supreme Leader’s decree in appointing the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi that says “the service to the neighbors, especially the needy and the oppressed” has been emphasized and in this regard during the past year, Astan Quds Razavi has taken extensive measures.
“Dedicating dowry to deprived young couples, rebuilding the Kalateh Menar Bridge, establishing Imam Reza’s (A.S.) drinking fountain in 25 deprived villages and installing desalinating units in those areas with the aim of providing safe drinking water, the start of a revival project of 110 Qanats (subterranean canals) in Khorasan Razavi and the revival of the Qanats of the North and South Khorasan, donating stationery to deprived students, providing food baskets to the needy, dedication of light livestock for activating animal husbandry in deprived areas and creating jobs etc., are part of the activities of Astan Quds Razavi in realizing the third paragraph of the decree” Deputy custodian of Astan Quds Razavi remarked.
Sunday 22 December 2024
