“Guardianship Is a Red Line: Ardabil Clerics Warn Against Violating Marja'iyyah”

Hawzah News Agency- The statement emphasized that any insult, threat, or attack on these revered religious institutions is tantamount to a declaration of war against God and His saints. Drawing a clear parallel between contemporary challenges and the battle of Karbala, the scholars warned enemies—both domestic and foreign—that the Islamic nation will remain steadfast in defending its religious leadership.

"This fatwa is a red line," the statement declared, "an extension of the path traced by Imam Hussain (PBUH) in Karbala and followed by Imam Khomeini (RA) in the Islamic Revolution."

The Assembly’s declaration comes in response to recent perceived violations and disrespect directed at senior religious authorities. The scholars praised the unified stance of the Shia sources of emulation, describing it as wise, revolutionary, and rooted in the prophetic tradition.

Key Points from the Statement:

1. Defense of Marja‘iyyah as a Religious Duty:
   The scholars asserted that safeguarding the dignity of the Marja‘iyyah and Wilayat al-Faqih is both a religious and national obligation, and violating it constitutes a betrayal of Islam and the principles of the Islamic Revolution.
2. Fatwa as a Continuation of Karbala’s Legacy:
   The historic fatwa, according to the statement, is not an isolated response but a continuation of the line of Imamate and Guardianship that began in Karbala and was revitalized by the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
3. Call for Unity Among Institutions:
   Religious, cultural, and political institutions across the Islamic world were urged to demonstrate tangible unity in defending the sacred leadership of the Ummah.
4. Firm Warning to the Enemies of Islam:
   The statement concluded with a strong warning: "Just as the Iranian nation emerged victorious during the Sacred Defense with the guidance of the late Imam Khomeini, it will once again rise and consign its enemies to the dustbin of history by adhering to this fatwa."

The declaration underscores rising sensitivity around the role and protection of the Shiite religious establishment in Iran and the broader Muslim world, especially in the face of perceived ideological, media, and political challenges.