Hawzah News Agency- The text of Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi's message to the national conference on Imam Reza's political life held in Qom is as follows:
In the name of God
First of all, I would like to thank the organizers of this conference, which is named after Samen al-Hojaj Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (PBUH), a conference that will try to deal with an important aspect in the life of Imam Reza, peace be upon him.
Politics is a part of the affairs of the Imamate, and this issue is well seen during the time of the 8th Imam's leadership. Today, with the situation seen in the world, the concept of politics has been associated to a large extent with concepts such as deception, dishonesty, oppression and the accumulation of power and wealth in the hands of oppressors, and this is nothing but the result of the work of incompetent politicians who lack moral values and It is not that religion has distanced itself and served the interests of the oppressors, while there is another type of politics that is accompanied by the observance of moral values, divine teachings, and the advice of religious elders.
This policy is actually planning the material and spiritual life of the people based on religious teachings and rational wisdom and is far from worldly corruptions and evil plots. Shia Imams (PBUT) have advised all politicians that many examples can be found in the words of Amir al-Moumenin (PBUH) in Nahj al-Balagha; Imam Reza also followed such a policy and recommended it during a short period of his noble life, when he was exiled in Marv and was forced to accept the governorship of Ma’mun Abbasi.
Imam Reza accepted Ma’mun leadership from this position as a medium in the direction of promoting Islamic sciences and strengthening the ideological foundations of religion and creating the opportunity to debate with leaders of other religions to prove the authenticity of Islam and to deepen and expand Shi’ism among Iranians.
Undoubtedly, knowing different aspects of such policy, its components, pillars and consequences will be one of the goals and achievements of this conference; I wish success to all those involved and participants of this conference and I hope they will take an important step in the mentioned field.
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings
Qom - Nasser Makarem Shirazi