Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani: ISIL driving people away from Islam

Speaking to European Shi’ite missionaries, Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani stressed that Takfiri groups seek to tarnish the merciful image of Islam, saying that Takfiri groups, such as ISIL, have created immense problems for Muslims which indicates that instead of bringing people closer to Islam, they are driving people away from Islam.

In a meeting with group of Shi’ite missionaries from several European countries, Grand Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani noted the importance of religious propagation and missionary work to convey the true message of Islam to the world, saying that there is no use for mankind to just sit around, they must strengthen their knowledge and convey the pure teachings of Islam to the people of the world.

“That a number of people come together and work to spread the knowledge of the Ahlul-Bayt in various countries is honourable and dignified,” he said.

The renowned source of emulation referred to the strenuous efforts of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Hoseyn Boroujerdi, saying that the leading Shi’ite authority of the mid-20th century commanded that Islamic scholars be sent to different regions of the world to engage in missionary activities.

“Our great teacher hoped that by sending lofty personalities for missionary activities abroad, pure Islamic knowledge would reach all countries in the world,” he explained.

Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani said that Ayatollah Boroujerdi stressed the importance of sending missionaries to different parts of the world, especially to European countries, and recommended that the teachings and sciences of the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlul-Bayt be conveyed to the world in an understandable and logical manner.

In another part of his recommendations to the European missionaries, the teacher in the Islamic Seminary of Qom stated one of their important tasks is to represent Islamic morals to the world.

“You must demonstrate to the world that pure Islam is a religion of ethics. You must introduce the moral characteristics of the Prophet and Infallible Imams to the entire world so that they can understand that real Muslims, male or female, have the highest morals,” the Iranian scholar explained.

Ayatollah Safi-Golpaygani stressed that Takfiri groups seek to tarnish the merciful image of Islam, adding that “Takfiri groups, such as ISIL, have created immense problems for Muslims which indicates that instead of bringing people closer to Islam, they are driving more people away from Islam.”

The Iranian source of emulation stressed that these missionaries need to announce to the people of various countries that Takfiri groups have no relation to Islam and that through their actions, they seek to tarnish the humanitarian and merciful image of Islam in the minds of the people of the world. “If people realize that Islam is the religion of morality, kindness, peace, and humanity, they will be hungry for knowledge of Islam and will view Islam in a positive light,” he stressed.

At the end of the meeting, His Eminence wished further success for those present and said: “I wish I was with you in this work and gain the many rewards that you’re achieving. In any case, what you do pleases Imam al-Mahdi. I am hopeful that God Almighty will increase your success and that we are included in your prayers.”