Imam Reza Holy Shrine Spirituality Seized my Heart

The head of Chechen Republic’s community of Islamic missionaries said, “Razavi Holy Shrine’s spirituality seized my heart and had a great effect on me”. 

According to Astan Quds Razavi News Website, in a visitation by Shafi’i missionaries of Chechnya, expressing his happiness for coming to the Razavi Shrine, Dr. Rezvan Ibrahimof stressed, “It is not possible to express my feelings in this divine shrine. This feeling is very much similar to the feeling I had in my visitation from Prophet Muhammad’s (S.A.W.) Shrine in Medina”. 

Considering the architecture of Holy Shrine’s different porticos and courtyards as very unique and beautiful, he stated, “There is no doubt that Holy Shrine’s style of architecture is one of the best in the Islamic world and its architecture and style of building cannot be compared to other Islamic places”. 

This researcher and historian added, “Before visiting this sacred place, we did not have lots of information about Imam Reza (A.S.) and Shi’ite Muslims and the only thing that we knew about Hazrat Reza (A.S.) was his names and honorific titles”. 

He continued, “Lots of information was obtained in our religious meetings with Shi’ites”. He also said, “In this trip, it became clear that common sayings about Shi’ite Islam are totally wrong and this new familiarity made our understanding of this Islamic sect clearer”. 

“To have more unity and solidarity, Muslims must turn back to Islam’s history and foundation”, Ibrahimof said. 

Referring to the existing vicinity and numerous common understandings between Shi’ites and Shafi’is in terms of religious issues, he went on, “We believe that Imam Mahdi’s (A.S.) emergence, which will brighten the world with its divine light, is the only solution to remove the dissension and division imposed by the westerners”. 

Saying that the best souvenir is a spiritual gift, the head of Chechnya’s community missionaries stressed, “I will take the absorbed inner warmth and purity of this place as the souvenir with myself”. 

In continuation, the professor of management faculty of Moscow University said, “Imam Reza (A.S.) is an offspring of Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.) and going on his pilgrimage is an obligation and it is very important for us, therefore”. 

Ahmadof Salm stated, “When I was studying at al-Mustafa University, I had received some information about Imam Reza (A.S.), but I could not imagine the grandeur and glory of this place as it really is”. 

Getting familiar with Shi’ite Islam, transferring the message of peace, and creating unity among Muslims were introduced by him as the aims of the visit. He also stressed, “Shi’ites are our religious brothers and we had always heard, from western media, false information about this Islamic sect”. 

Describing his feeling of this pilgrimage, he added, “Theme of a Russian proverb says: It is not possible to state neither by saying nor by writing. Our feeling of this pilgrimage is the same as this proverb and it is not possible for us to describe the atmosphere of this place using pen or tongue”. 

“The belief of visiting graves is also acceptable in our religion and I personally believe that one cannot have a pilgrimage unless he is invited by someone and this is one of the blessings of Imam Reza (A.S.)”, Salm added. 

He said, “The existing differences between Islamic sects are very minimal and what is important is believing in principles and basics. There are many common understandings among Muslims; all of us pray toward the same Qibla and our prophet and holy book is the same and these are enough for having solidarity and unity”. 

This university professor said, “I want Iranian people to pray for us so that we have another opportunity to visit this place”. 

At the end of his talk he thanked the management of non-Iranian pilgrims of Astan Quds Razavi and stressed, “Cultural and religious activities and programs which are offered at the holy porticos of Ghadir and Dar al-Rahmah provides the pilgrims with more opportunities to get more familiar with the Islamic teachings and those of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.).