Hawzah News Agency (Mashhad, Iran) - A group of first-time pilgrims comprising students of Muhammadiyyah Seminary School in Iraq, have paid a visit to Imam Reza (as) holy shrine at the threshold of Arafa Day and Eid al-Adha.

The group, comprising 32 seminary students and cultural activists from the shrine city of Najaf, met the head of Astan Quds Razavi's Non-Iranian Pilgrims' Affairs Dept. upon arrival, took part in cultural and religious programs at the holy shrine, and paid a visit to the Islamic Research Center and Razavi University of Islamic Sciences.

The head of Muhammadiyyah Seminary School in his visit with the official in charge of the non-Iranian pilgrims' affairs said it was a blessing for a group of Iraqi seminary students, religious scholars and cultural activists to pay a visit to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) and enjoy various cultural and religious programs.

Highlighting the immense influence of the meeting and programs on intellectual and religious growth of the visiting group, Muhammad al-Badhani added: "Since the majority of group members are university professors, authors and cultural activists, we will observe a very positive feedback of the visit and related achievements upon our return to Iraq."

According to him, the group has planned to stay for five days in Mashhad and visit top religious scholars there.

Also a cultural activist from the group expressed his pleasure for visiting the holy shrine of Imam Reza (as), saying "Visiting the holy shrines of the Infallible Imams (as) will definitely boost our knowledge and refresh our souls."

He quoted a hadith from Imam Reza (as) that says "whoever visits my tomb, he will be granted the reward of a thousand Hajj or major pilgrimage to Mecca", stating that this visit has given him a peace of mind.