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Wassalamu alaykum va rehmatullah va barakatohu 4 Rajab 1435 The Office of al-Syed al-Sistani - Al Najaf Al Ashraf
 
Wassalamu alaykum va rehmatullah va barakatohu 4 Rajab 1435 The Office of al-Syed al-Sistani - Al Najaf Al Ashraf
  
 
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Revision as of 09:52, 17 May 2017

Ayatullah Sistani - On differences and unity

On 3rd April, 2013, a group Zawwar led by Sh. Mustafa Jaffer met Ayatullah Sistani at his home in Najaf.

Agha met the delegation in two groups – the men first and then the ladies group. At the end of the meeting with the ladies, one of the lady members in the group asked Sh. Mustafa to request Agha to pray for unity in the community.

In response Agha Sistani replied, in connection with the subject of unity in the community, that we have to first of all understand when we as a Shia society – not only Khoja society - but any Shia society anywhere – when they show their strength and unity, people outside feel threatened and will do everything to break this unity.

By the same token, whilst they use their different means and conspiracies to break our unity and divide us, we should learn to live with our differences and unite. Our differences should make us stronger if we understand how to live with our differences.

We want everything in black and white; only one way. There is nothing like ‘one way’. The diversity has to be utilized to strengthen ourselves. Then we will be able to succeed. It is not only one way –that one leader says one thing and that is the only way.

Differences should be utilized to strengthen ourselves and not to divide us. Everything is not one way. Agha stated that ‘in your diversity learn how to live with your differences’.

Successful societies are those that have learnt to live with their differences and appear as one society.

Look at the Aga Khan. I am sure that you have your relations with them and you compare yourselves with that society. They look united under a strong leader. Yet they have many differences but look united because they have learnt to live with their differences. Similarly the Jews also have many sects and political views with differing opinions but they have the appearance of a united society. They have learnt to live with their differences. We, who have the legacy of Ahlul Bait, cannot we live united within our differences? If not, this will be a continuous block to our progress.


(Above transcript based on a report, given by Sh. Mustafa Jaffer to the Zawwar present, after Majlis at the Hotel.)


Ayatullah Sistani's message for The World Federation's Triennial Conference 2014

Arabic

الحمد لله رب العالمین و الصلاه و السلام علی خیر خلقه محمد و آله الطاهرین و بعد: الاخوه و الاخوات اعضاء جماعه الخوجه الشیعه الاثنی عشریه حفظهم الله السلام علیکم و رحمه الله و برکاته مع المحبه و الاحترام فی هذه الایام الکریمه التی ینعقد فیها مؤتمرکم العام یسرنا ان نبعث الیکم بتحیات سماحه السید المرجع دام ظله و دعاءه لکم جمیعا بالخیر و البرکه و مزید الموفقیه و السداد. و نحیطکم علما بان سماحته اذ یبارک لکم عقد مؤتمرکم هذا و یعده مصداقا لما اوصی به مولانا امیر المؤمنین علیه السلام اولاده و شیعته من نظم امرهم فانه یؤکد علی ضروره الاهتمام ازید من ذی قبل بالجوانب الثقافیه لاعضاء الجماعه و اتخاذ کافه الوسائل و السبل المتاحه للحفاظ علی هویتهم الدینیه الاصلیه، کما یؤکد علی ضروره الاهتمام باخوانکم و اخواتکم المؤمنین و لا سیما من الافریقین سواء فی الجوانب الثقافیه او الخدمات الاجتماعیه، سائلا المولی العلی القدیر ان یسدد خطاکم و یمنحکم مزید الاجر و الثواب. والسلام علیکم و رحمه الله و برکاته.

4 رجب المرجب 1435 مکتب السید السیستانی النجف الاشرف


Translation in English

In the name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the Ever-Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of the Worlds and may peace and blessings be upon the best of His creation Muḥammad and upon his pure progeny.

Brothers and sisters, the members of the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri community, may Allah safeguard you. Salamun alaykum wa rehmatullah wa barakatuhu, with love and respect.

In these auspicious days when your general conference is being convened, we are pleased to convey to all of you,greetings and prayers of beneficiation and prosperity, as well as increase in tawfeeq and steadfastness from His Eminence Grand Ayatollah al-Syed [Ali al-Husayni as-Sistani], may his life be long.

His Eminence blesses you on convening this conference and considers this as an exemplification of the recommendation of our master Amir al-Mu’mineen (a.s) to his children and to his Shias to manage their affairs.

He [his Eminence] stresses upon the necessity to give more importance than ever before on the cultural aspects of community members and to seize all available means and avenues to safeguard their original religious identity. He also stresses upon the necessity to give importance to your mu’min brothers and sisters, especially the Africans, on both cultural aspects and on social services. Praying to the Almighty Master to keep you all steadfast and grant you with increased reward and recompense.

Wassalamu alaykum va rehmatullah va barakatohu 4 Rajab 1435 The Office of al-Syed al-Sistani - Al Najaf Al Ashraf


Ayatullah Sistani's message for The World Federation's Triennial Conference 2017

Arabic

Message - Arabic Page 1
Message - Arabic Page 2


Translation in English


The Office of al-Sayyid al-Sistani (May Allah prolong his life), al-Najaf al-Ashraf, Iraq.

In the name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the Ever-Merciful

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and salutations upon the best of His creation, Muḥammad, and his pure infallible progeny. Peace be upon our brothers and sisters from the Shiʿa Ithna ʿAshari Khoja community, and His mercy and blessings be upon them. It pleases us, as you are on the verge of convening your general conference this year in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to convey to you the greetings of the respected Sayyid [al-Sistani], may Allah prolong his life, and his felicitations for this august gathering and his prayers for you to attain all that is good in this world and the Hereafter. After reminding you of the importance of maintaining piety and being conscious of Allah, the Most High, in private and public, he wishes to impart some advice on the following matters:

1) The importance of unity and abstaining from dissension and discord that only give rise to trouble and misery. No community is divided but that it is afflicted by weakness and inability and this [eventually] leads to disgrace and loss. You must adhere to the electoral process and respect the will of the majority in organizing your affairs and in selecting those who will administer them. You should be longing to ensure the smooth and peaceful transition of leadership from one administration to the next elected administration, for indeed there is goodness in this for you [both] in your religion and your worldly life.

2) Taking great care to ensure the preservation of your cultural identity, whether it pertains to [matters of] your religion, ethics and notable traditions, or language and etiquettes. You must be cautious not to get acculturated to the culture of other societies where you migrate. Indeed, the cultural identity of every community is the chief guarantor for its prosperity, and your identity is – by the grace of Allah - one that incorporates rightly-guided beliefs, praiseworthy values and sublime morals, and these are the things that guarantee felicity for human beings in both worlds.

3) Keeping close ties with the grand institution of marjaʿiyya for the Shiʿa Ithna ʿasharis - may Allah enlighten them with His proof - in the coming ages just as has been your practice thus far. This is certainly the ideal path for the survival of your affair and the security of your future. The Grand Marjaʿ is always concerned for your well-being; he cares about you and takes an interest in your success and prosperity.

4) Paying special attention to increasing the religious and social awareness of the younger generation among the youths of the community in the face of attempts by deviant groups to recruit and attract them. These groups work assiduously under glamorous and misleading titles with the aim of driving them, in the end, towards corrupt beliefs and wrong practices, distancing them from steadfastness in their faith and conduct, and hurling them into the pits of extremity (i.e. overdone or underdone).

5) Consideration for the state of the African believers from both cultural and humanitarian perspectives, for they are your brothers and sisters in faith and belief, so they should not suffer in your presence while you are capable of assisting them. You must therefore care for them while preserving their dignity, as this will bring special blessings and bounties of Allah -Glory be to Him- upon you.

6) Exercising precaution when it comes to the legally prescribed religious dues such as khums etc. These funds should not be spent in the wrong places, and one should stick to the exact amount that the Marjaʿ has permitted in his spending [of it]. Indeed, the responsibility is only lifted when the dues are delivered to their rightful recipients. The portion due to the Imam (sahm al-imam) is not to be spent except for propagation of the religion, as per the guidelines of the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (as), and securing the fundamental needs of devout believers. The portion due to the holy lineage (sahm al-sadat) is to be disbursed to the poor, devout descendants from the Banu Hashim. Compensation for grievances (radd al-mazalim) is likewise to be disbursed to the poor who are devout. It is necessary to ensure that all the legal conditions are met by those to whom one wishes to give the religious dues. It is not permitted to be complaisant in this because of one’s personal attachments or feelings of empathy towards those who claim to be deserving [of these funds] without clear evidence to substantiate the claim or other similar justifications. Similarly, there is no justification for expending more than what the Marjaʿ has permitted in accordance with the interests of the wider community [of believers].

In conclusion, we ask Allah, the Exalted, the Omnipotent, to keep you under His perpetual aegis, to make you steadfast on the truth that you are upon, to send down His mercy and blessings upon you, and to make you an adornment [and a source of pride] for the Ahl al-Bayt (as) through your unwavering adherence to guidance, holding on to the firmest handle, and beautifying yourself with the noblest morals. We pray that He places your deeds among those that please our master and Imam, al-Hujjah ibn al-Hasan al-ʿAskari, may Allah hasten his relief [through his reappearance]. Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.

al-Najaf al-Ashraf, on the sixth day of the month of Rajab, 1438 A.H (4th April 2017) Signed: Office of al-Sayyid al-Sistani, al-Najaf al-Ashraf


Translation in French


Le Bureau d’al-Sayyid al-Sistani (qu'Allah prolonge sa vie), al-Ashraf Al-Najaf, Irak.

Au nom d'Allah, le Tout-Vénérable, le Tout-Miséricordieux

Toute louange appartient à Allah, Seigneur des mondes, et des bénédictions et des salutations sur le meilleur de sa création, Moḥammad, et sa pure descendance infaillible.

La paix soit sur nos frères et sœurs de la communauté Shiʿa Ithna ʿAshari Khoja, et sa miséricorde et ses bénédictions soient sur eux. Comme vous êtes sur le point d’organiser votre Conférence Générale cette année à Dar es-Salaam, en Tanzanie, cela nous fait plaisir de vous transmettre les salutations du respecté Sayed al-Sistani (qu’Allah prolonge sa vie), ainsi que ses félicitations pour cette Assemblée majestueuse et ses prières pour que vous puissiez atteindre tout ce qui est bon dans ce monde et l'au-delà. En vous rappelant de l’importance du maintien de piété et d’être conscient d’Allah, le très Haut, en privé et en public, il souhaite donner quelques conseils sur les questions suivantes :

1) L’importance de l’unité et, l'abstention de la dissension et de la discorde qui ne causent que des problèmes et des misères. Aucune communauté n’est divisée, mais elle est affligée par la faiblesse et l’incapacité, ce qui [finalement] conduit à la disgrâce et la perte. Vous devez vous conformer au processus électoral et respecter la volonté de la majorité dans l’organisation de vos affaires et en sélectionnant ceux qui vont les administrer. Vous devriez désirer assurer une transition sans heurt et paisible des dirigeants d’une administration à la prochaine administration élue, car en effet il y a de la bonté pour vous [deux] dans votre religion et votre vie mondaine.

2) Prendre grand soin d’assurer la préservation de votre identité culturelle, qu’il s’agisse de votre religion, de votre éthique et de ses traditions remarquables, de sa langue et de ses étiquettes. Vous devez être prudent de ne pas être acculturés à la culture des autres sociétés où vous migrez. En effet, l’identité culturelle de chaque communauté est le principal garant de sa prospérité et votre identité est – par la grâce d’Allah - celle qui intègre des croyances bien guidées, des valeurs dignes d’éloges et des mœurs sublimes, et ce sont les choses qui garantissent la félicité pour les êtres humains dans les deux mondes.

3) Garder des liens étroits avec la grande institution de marja'iyya pour les Shi'a Ithna'asharis - qu'Allah les éclaire avec ses preuves - dans les années à venir tout comme cela a été votre pratique jusqu’à présent. C'est certainement le chemin idéal pour la survie de vos affaires et la sécurité de votre avenir. Le Grand Marja' est toujours préoccupé par votre bien-être ; Il se soucie de vous et s’intéresse à votre succès et votre prospérité.

4) Accorder une attention particulière à la sensibilisation sociale et religieuse de la jeune génération parmi les jeunes de la communauté face aux tentatives de groupes déviants, pour les recruter et les attirer. Ces groupes travaillent assidûment sous titres trompeurs dans le but de les conduire, en fin de compte, vers des croyances corrompues et de mauvaises pratiques, en les éloignant avec fermeté dans leur foi et leur conduite, et en les lançant dans les puits de l’extrémité (c’est-à-dire excessif ou saignant).

5) Avoir de la considération pour l'état des croyants africains à la fois dans les perspectives culturelles et humanitaires, car ils sont vos frères et sœurs dans la foi et les croyances, afin qu'ils ne souffrent pas en votre présence alors que vous êtes capable de les aider. Vous devez donc prendre soin d’eux tout en préservant leur dignité, car cela apportera des bénédictions particulières et les bienfaits d’Allah (Gloire soit avec lui) sur vous.

6) Faites preuve de précaution en ce qui concerne les frais religieux prescrits par la loi, tels que les khums, etc. Ces fonds ne doivent pas être dépensés dans les mauvais endroits, et il faut tenir compte du montant exact que le Marja' a permis dans les dépenses [de celui-ci]. En effet, la responsabilité n'est levée que lorsque les droits sont versés à leurs destinataires légitimes. La partie due à l'Imam (sahm al-imam) ne doit pas être dépensée, sauf pour la propagation de la religion, selon les directives des Imams de Ahl al-Bayt, et pour garantir les besoins fondamentaux des croyants pieux. La portion due à la lignée sacrée (sahm al-sadat) doit être décaissée aux pauvres, pieux descendants des Banu Hashim. L'indemnisation pour les griefs (radd al-mazalim) est également décaissée pour les pauvres qui sont pieux. Il est nécessaire de veiller à ce que toutes les conditions légales soient remplies par ceux à qui on souhaite donner les frais de religion. Il n'est pas permis d'être complaisant en raison de ses attachements personnels ou des sentiments d'empathie envers ceux qui prétendent mériter [de ces fonds] sans preuve claire pour justifier la réclamation ou d'autres justifications similaires. De même, il n'y a aucune justification pour dépenser plus que ce que le Marja' a permis en fonction des intérêts de la communauté dans son ensemble [des croyants].

En conclusion, nous demandons à Allah, l’Exalté, l’Omnipotent, de vous garder sous son égide perpétuelle, de vous garder fidèle à la vérité dont vous êtes sûr, de vous envoyer sa miséricorde et ses bénédictions et de faire de vous une parure [et une source de fierté] pour les Ahl al-Bayt (as) grâce à votre adhésion sans faille à la direction, en tenant à la poignée la plus rigide et en vous embellissant avec les morales les plus nobles. Nous prions qu’il mette vos actes parmi ceux qui plaisent à notre maître et Imam, al-Hujjah ibn al-Hasan al-ʿAskari, qu’Allah hâte son secours [à travers sa réapparition]. La paix soit sur vous, ainsi que la miséricorde et les bénédictions d’Allah.

Al-Najaf al-Ashraf, le sixième jour du mois de Rajab, 1438 A.H (4 Avril 2017) Signé : Le Bureau d’al-Sayyid al-Sistani, al-Najaf, al-Ashraf