Imam Khamenei’s Civilization-making Initiative, Effective Step for Uprooting Takfir
Imam Khamenei’s civilization-making initiative is an effective step toward uprooting the phenomenon of Takfir, a Muslim scholar said.
In an interview with IQNA, Ali Ramazan Al-Ousi who is a professor of Islamic Sciences World University in London, added that the Takfiri thought is a sectarian and ignorant one spread under different titles.
He stressed that the spread of the idea among societies should be prevented, noting that the idea of Imam Khamenei for making a new Islamic civilization is an effective measure to put an end to Takfiri idea and the extremist groups.
What follows is excerpts from his interview with IQNA:
Q: How do you view the character of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution?
A: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei is a source of emulation and an Islamic leader who possesses both knowledge and leadership, and this is something not seen in a lot of leaders. Not all leaders have master over Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and at the same time have the ability to lead a nation. Conversely, a Faqih is seldom able to be leader, too. But these two can be seen together in Grand Ayatollah Khamenei as they were seen in Imam Khomeini (RA).
Imam Khamenei is a pious man of God who has done great services to the Iranian nation and to Islam. This great man has managed to move the Islamic Republic of Iran to the highest levels in areas like science, technology, and economy. The innovations and accomplishments of which the Iranin is proud today have been made possible thanks to the leadership of Imam Khamenei. Were it not for his strategic ideas, the Iranian nation could not have such achievements. Grand Ayatollah Khamenei is an exceptional and successful leader whom Iran is proud of and this is not a claim but a reality.
Q: Islamic civilization-making for regional Islamic Awakening movements to confront Western liberalism is among the innovative ideas of Imam Khamenei. What do you think of that?
A: Undoubtedly, secularism and Islamic thoughts are the two lines of though dominating the world today. Islam has shaped the Islamic civilization and this civilization should be institutionalized in societies today. But on this path, the Takfiri ideology, which is an ignorant and sectarian-based ideology is a problem that needs attention. When Imam Khamenei presents the idea of Islamic civilization-making, it means that Takfiris and extremist groups have no place in Islamic societies and should be uprooted and replaced by moderation, as verse 143 of Surah Baqara puts it.
Q: How do you see the role of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in upholding Islamic unity?
A: Definitely, Imam Khamenei has taken great strides toward realization of Muslim unity since he became Iran’s leader. Two great accomplishments have been materialized under his leadership, namely creation of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST)and the Ahl-ul-Bayt (A)S World Assembly, both of which work to promote Islamic unity. Today, despite different plots and conspiracies, there are relations among Muslim scholars.
The WFPIST has been the harbinger of Islamic unity since its establishment and has made valuable efforts to enhance unity in the Muslim world… These efforts are not limited to Iran but are made elsewhere as well and the Conference for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought that is annually held in Britain is one of these efforts inspired by the views of Imam Khamenei.
Q: How do you evaluate Imam Khamenei’s resistance against the domination of the US and Europe and his confrontation with the Zionist regime in his speeches and thoughts?
A: Imam Khomeini was a pioneer of standing up against Israel and Imam Khamenei follows that path, too. Imam Khamenei always emphasizes in his speeches and on different occasions that Israel is an illegal entity and that it will not be recognized.
Q: What is your idea about Imam Khamenei’s attention to the issue of Palestine?
A: Imam Khamenei views the issue of Palestine from two perspectives, one Islamic and the other based on historical facts and the realities on the ground. Imam Khamenei in all of his speeches underlines that the Palestinian nation has been oppressed and the Zionist regime is an occupier and usurper. These stances have revived hopes in the Palestinian people who consider the Islamic Republic of Iran as their sole supporter.
Q: According to Imam Khamenei’s statements, what is the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah toward the issue of Palestine?
A: The Muslim and Arab world and especially Palestine’s neighboring countries must pay special attention to the issue of Palestine and do not limit their efforts to paying lip service and chanting slogans. They should adopt and implement a practical plan to make sure the Palestinians’ rights are upheld. They should confront occupation and condemn the Zionist regime’s crimes and aggressions in Palestine. But unfortunately we see that Arab regimes have had a weak conduct in this regard.
Iran has made a lot of efforts in support of Palestine and the Palestinian nation and other countries should take Iran as a role model and support Palestine as keenly as Iran does.
1296460
He stressed that the spread of the idea among societies should be prevented, noting that the idea of Imam Khamenei for making a new Islamic civilization is an effective measure to put an end to Takfiri idea and the extremist groups.
What follows is excerpts from his interview with IQNA:
Q: How do you view the character of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution?
A: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei is a source of emulation and an Islamic leader who possesses both knowledge and leadership, and this is something not seen in a lot of leaders. Not all leaders have master over Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and at the same time have the ability to lead a nation. Conversely, a Faqih is seldom able to be leader, too. But these two can be seen together in Grand Ayatollah Khamenei as they were seen in Imam Khomeini (RA).
Imam Khamenei is a pious man of God who has done great services to the Iranian nation and to Islam. This great man has managed to move the Islamic Republic of Iran to the highest levels in areas like science, technology, and economy. The innovations and accomplishments of which the Iranin is proud today have been made possible thanks to the leadership of Imam Khamenei. Were it not for his strategic ideas, the Iranian nation could not have such achievements. Grand Ayatollah Khamenei is an exceptional and successful leader whom Iran is proud of and this is not a claim but a reality.
Q: Islamic civilization-making for regional Islamic Awakening movements to confront Western liberalism is among the innovative ideas of Imam Khamenei. What do you think of that?
A: Undoubtedly, secularism and Islamic thoughts are the two lines of though dominating the world today. Islam has shaped the Islamic civilization and this civilization should be institutionalized in societies today. But on this path, the Takfiri ideology, which is an ignorant and sectarian-based ideology is a problem that needs attention. When Imam Khamenei presents the idea of Islamic civilization-making, it means that Takfiris and extremist groups have no place in Islamic societies and should be uprooted and replaced by moderation, as verse 143 of Surah Baqara puts it.
Q: How do you see the role of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in upholding Islamic unity?
A: Definitely, Imam Khamenei has taken great strides toward realization of Muslim unity since he became Iran’s leader. Two great accomplishments have been materialized under his leadership, namely creation of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST)and the Ahl-ul-Bayt (A)S World Assembly, both of which work to promote Islamic unity. Today, despite different plots and conspiracies, there are relations among Muslim scholars.
The WFPIST has been the harbinger of Islamic unity since its establishment and has made valuable efforts to enhance unity in the Muslim world… These efforts are not limited to Iran but are made elsewhere as well and the Conference for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought that is annually held in Britain is one of these efforts inspired by the views of Imam Khamenei.
Q: How do you evaluate Imam Khamenei’s resistance against the domination of the US and Europe and his confrontation with the Zionist regime in his speeches and thoughts?
A: Imam Khomeini was a pioneer of standing up against Israel and Imam Khamenei follows that path, too. Imam Khamenei always emphasizes in his speeches and on different occasions that Israel is an illegal entity and that it will not be recognized.
Q: What is your idea about Imam Khamenei’s attention to the issue of Palestine?
A: Imam Khamenei views the issue of Palestine from two perspectives, one Islamic and the other based on historical facts and the realities on the ground. Imam Khamenei in all of his speeches underlines that the Palestinian nation has been oppressed and the Zionist regime is an occupier and usurper. These stances have revived hopes in the Palestinian people who consider the Islamic Republic of Iran as their sole supporter.
Q: According to Imam Khamenei’s statements, what is the responsibility of the Muslim Ummah toward the issue of Palestine?
A: The Muslim and Arab world and especially Palestine’s neighboring countries must pay special attention to the issue of Palestine and do not limit their efforts to paying lip service and chanting slogans. They should adopt and implement a practical plan to make sure the Palestinians’ rights are upheld. They should confront occupation and condemn the Zionist regime’s crimes and aggressions in Palestine. But unfortunately we see that Arab regimes have had a weak conduct in this regard.
Iran has made a lot of efforts in support of Palestine and the Palestinian nation and other countries should take Iran as a role model and support Palestine as keenly as Iran does.
1296460
