Ayat. Makarem urges Muslims to preserve unity

Religious jurisprudent, Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi in his newly released message urged Muslims to promote their unity urging them to refrain from any measure leading to dispersion during celebrations mounted for marking Eid al-Ghadir, the anniversary of the appointment of Imam Ali as successor to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

According to the senior cleric, in a world dominated by oppression, discrimination, injustice, and various forms of moral corruptions, this occasion provides Muslims, not only Shias, to become familiar with Imam Ali's (PBUH) lifestyle and teachings.

"All Muslims gather around the light of Ghadir and unite in their resolve in order to counter the oppressors and dictators who sow discord among them," the religious cleric underscored.

Muslims across the globe commemorate the Eid al-Ghadeer each year, marking the occasion of the appointment by Islam’s Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) of Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor.

On March 10, 632 CE, in the tenth year of Hijra, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) received a revelation from God, ordering him to halt the pilgrims at a pond called Khum, a place near Mecca, and to designate Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor in guiding and ruling Muslims.

Eid al-Ghadeer is also known as Eid al-Akbar (the greatest Eid) in Islamic narrations, since Muslims believe that the mission of all the previous messengers of Allah became accomplished on this day.

/SR