Agha'i Shirazi's thoughts on the Egyptian Shia Genocide.

Salaam dear viewers, recently, there has been the birth of some genocide of our dear Shias in Egypt. I highly condemn this along with millions of other Shias as well as non-Shias. My respected Scholar and inspiration - His Eminence Agha'i Nasir Makrim Shirazi, has taken a step against this strongly, below is the authentic text taken from His Eminence's official website regarding his view over the genocide;

His eminence’s statement on the killing of some Shi’as in Egypt  Released by the Grand ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s office The Takfiri Wahhabis today are the worst problem the Islamic world is suffering f r o m. These Takfiris deal heavy blow to Islam and Muslim’s reputation by their horrific acts. They are portraying a violent and barbaric image of Islam which is the religion of mercy and compassion. The saddening news of attack of some Takfiri Wahhabis to a Majlis in which the birthday anniversary of Imam Mahdi (as) was celebrated in Giza-Egypt and the martyrdom of four regional Shia including the prominent scholar Sheikh Hassan Shahateh made me so upset and concerned.  Today the Takfiri Wahhabis are the worst problem the Islamic world is suffering f r o m. These Takfiris deal heavy blow to Islam and Muslim’s reputation by their horrific acts. They are portraying a violent and barbaric image of Islam whereas it is the religion of mercy and compassion.   Unfortunately the endeared Egypt is facing Zionism plots which aim at the region’s stability and security. If an effective remedy is not sought for this, it then will soon infect the whole region. Within the past two years the sectarian violence was pointed at the Christian minority and now it is going after the followers of Ahlulbait (as). This is happening while Egypt has been famous for loving the Ahlulbait (as) throughout history.  Such crimes do not fit with religious and civilized people of Egypt.   The root of such crimes can be sought in the propaganda and dangerous propagation done by the Takfiri Wahhabis against other schools. They simply issue fatwa for killing. Such instigations have been increased recently and may lead to the continuation of bloodshed amongst Muslim brothers.   We along with other international and Islamic organizations denounce this unprecedented crime and express readiness to any dialogue between the Islamic Seminary of Qom and Egyptian scholars in order for more closeness and solidarity amongst Muslim scholars. I should thank the scholars of al-Azhar and all who condemned this horrific crime and urge all Muslim scholars to not remain silent and to show a proper reaction. The Egyptian government should also show no hesitation in persecuting and punishing the ones who did this crime.   I humbly ask Almighty Allah (swt) to save Islam and Muslims from these Wahhabis. Nasser Makarem shirazi Qom Seminary School 2013/28/06

What non-Muslim scholars said about Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him)

Nepolean Bonaparte – Quoted in Christian Cherfils BONAPARTE ET ISLAM (PARIS  1914)

“I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of Qur'an which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness.”

M.K.Gandhi, YOUNG INDIA, 1924

"...I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble." YOUNG INDIA, 1924

Lamartine - Histoire de la Turquie, Paris 1854, Vol II, pp. 276-77:

"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls... the forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death; all these attest not to an imposture but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was twofold, the unit of God and the immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with words.

"Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?"

Edward Gibbon and Simon Ocklay  - History of the Saracen Empire, London, 1870, p. 54:

"It is not the propagation but the permanency of his religion that deserves our wonder, the same pure and perfect impression which he engraved at Mecca and Medina is preserved, after the revolutions of twelve centuries by the Indian, the African and the Turkish proselytes of the Koran...The Mahometans have uniformly withstood the temptation of reducing the object of their faith and devotion to a level with the senses and imagination of man. 'I believe in One God and Mahomet the Apostle of God', is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honors of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion."

Rev. Bosworth Smith, Mohammed and Mohammadanism, London 1874, p. 92:

"He was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without Pope's pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue; if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammed, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports."

Annie Besant, The Life and Teachings of Muhammad, Madras 1932, p. 4:

"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher."

Montgomery Watt, Mohammad at Mecca, Oxford 1953, p. 52:

"His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement – all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad."

James A. Michener, 'Islam: The Misunderstood Religion' in Reader's Digest (American Edition), May 1955, pp. 68-70:

"Muhammad, the inspired man who founded Islam, was born about A.D. 570 into an Arabian tribe that worshipped idols. Orphaned at birth, he was always particularly solicitous of the poor and needy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and the downtrodden. At twenty he was already a successful businessman, and soon became director of camel caravans for a wealthy widow. When he reached twenty-five, his employer, recognizing his merit, proposed marriage. Even though she was fifteen years older, he married her, and as long as she lived, remained a devoted husband.

"Like almost every major prophet before him, Muhammad fought shy of serving as the transmitter of God's word, sensing his own inadequacy. But the angel commanded 'Read'. So far as we know, Muhammad was unable to read or write, but he began to dictate those inspired words which would soon revolutionize a large segment of the earth: "There is one God."

"In all things Muhammad was profoundly practical. When his beloved son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumors of God's personal condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Muhammad is said to have announced, 'An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such things to the death or birth of a human-being.'

"At Muhammad's own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria with one of the noblest speeches in religious history: 'If there are any among you who worshipped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you worshipped, He lives forever.'"

Michael H. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc. 1978, p. 33:

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."

Sarojini Naidu, the famous Indian poetess says – S. Naidu, Ideals of Islam, Speeches and Writings, Madaras, 1918

“It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: 'God Alone is Great'... “

Thomas Caryle – Heros and Heros Worship

“how one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades?”
“…The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammed) are disgraceful to ourselves only…How one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades….A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to kindle the world; the world’s Maker had ordered so."

Stanley Lane-Poole – Table Talk of the Prophet

“He was the most faithful protector of those he protected, the sweetest and most agreeable in conversation. Those who saw him were suddenly filled with reverence; those who came near him loved him; they who described him would say, "I have never seen his like either before or after." He was of great taciturnity, but when he spoke it was with emphasis and deliberation, and no one could forget what he said...”

George Bernard Shaw - The Genuine Islam Vol.No.8, 1936.

“I believe if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring much needed peace and happiness.
I have studied him - the man and in my opinion is far from being an anti–Christ. He must be called the Savior of Humanity.
I have prophesied about the faith of Mohammad that it would be acceptable the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

Eating - and its etiquette briefly explained by Imam Sadiq (as).

A little food is praiseworthy in every case and with all people, because it
is salutary for the outer and the inner being. Eating is praiseworthy
when done out of necessity, as a means and provision, at a time of
plenty, or for nourishment. Eating out of necessity is for the pure; eating
as a means and provision is a support for the precocious; eating at a
time of plenty is for those who trust; and eating for nourishment is for
believers.

There is nothing more harmful to the believer's heart than having too
much food, for it brings about two things; hardness of heart and arousal
of desires. Hunger is a condiment for believers, nourishment for the spirit,
food for the heart, and health for the body. The Holy Prophet said,

'The son of Adam fills no worse vessel than his belly.'

David said, 'Leaving a morsel of food that I need is preferable to me
than staying up for twenty nights.'

The Messenger of Allah said, 'The believer eats to fill one stomach, and

the hypocrite seven.' And elsewhere, 'Woe to people who are swollen in

two places!' When he was asked what they were, he replied, 'The stomach

and the genitals.'

‘Isa [a] said, 'The heart does not have any worse disease than hardness,

and no soul has been more weakened than by lack of hunger. They are

two halters of banishment and disappointment.'

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Reference: Imam Sadiq (as)'s ahadith on Eating in the book Lantern of path, chapter on Eating. 

How the Men of Knowledge are Ruined

Caution and fear are the legacy of knowledge and its measure; knowledge
is the ray of gnosis and the heart of belief. Whoever is denied caution
is not a man of knowledge, even if he can split hairs in dealing with
obscure items of knowledge. Allah said,

Only those of His servants who are possessed of knowledge fear Allah.
(35:28)

Men of knowledge are ruined by eight things: greed and miserliness,
showing off and partisanship, love of praise, delving into things whose
reality they cannot reach, affectation by taking excessive pains to beautify
their speech with superfluous expressions, lack of modesty before Allah,
boastfulness, and not acting upon what they know.

‘Isa [a] said, 'The most wretched of all people is he who is known for
his knowledge, not for his actions.'

The Holy Prophet said, 'Do not sit with every presumptuous caller
who summons you from certainty to doubt, from sincerity to showing
off, from humility to pride, from good counsel to enmity, and from abstinence
to desire. Draw near to the person with knowledge, who summons
you from pride to humility, from showing off to sincerity, from
doubt to certainty, from desire to abstinence, from enmity to good counsel.'
None are fit to preach to creation except that person who has gone
beyond these evils by his truthfulness. He sees the faults of speech and
knows what is sound from what is unsound, the defectiveness of
thoughts, and the temptations of the self and his fancies.

'Ali said, 'Be like the kind, compassionate doctor who places the remedy
where it will be of benefit.' They asked ‘Isa [a], 'With whom shall we
sit, O Spirit of Allah?' 'With one the sight of whom reminds you of
 Allah,' he replied, 'and whose speech increases you in knowledge, and
whose actions make you desire the next world.'

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Ref: Lantern of the Path, a collection of sayings of Imam As-Sadiq (as). Chapter on this topic by its full name.