Hawzah News Agency- His message was delivered at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the passing of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Behbahani, one of the distinguished figures of contemporary Shia scholarship.
In the message, read at the gathering held in Qom, the senior religious authority underscored that celebrating the memory of scholars who devoted their entire lives to defending the sacred religion of Islam is not merely a ritual, but a continuation of their mission and a reaffirmation of Islamic intellectual heritage.
“Honoring scholars is a promotion of religion and Sharia”
Grand Ayatollah Sobhani began his message with the Qur’anic verse:
“Allah will raise those who believe among you, and those who have been granted knowledge, by many degrees.”
He noted that the Qur’an itself elevates the station of scholars, making the reverence shown toward them an act of religious importance.
“Appreciation and respect for the great scholars who sacrificed their lives for years in preserving and safeguarding the sacred religion of Islam is a form of promoting religion and Sharia,” he stated.
According to the grand scholar, commemorations such as Ayatollah Behbahani anniversary ensure that the current generation remains connected to the ethical path, scholarly discipline, and moral character of the predecessors who illuminated the horizon of jurisprudence with their insight and piety.
A legacy that inspires future jurists
Grand Ayatollah Sobhani added that for new students of Islamic law, witnessing the enduring respect accorded to scholars—even decades after their passing—instills a sense of responsibility and aspiration.
“When the youth see that after many years a community still gathers to honor a scholar, they naturally gravitate toward his ways and customs and strive to shine like bright stars in the sky of knowledge and jurisprudence,” he said.
Ayatollah Behbahani: ‘At the center of the circle of virtues’
Referring specifically to Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Behbahani, he described him as a scholar whose virtues were abundant and whose life represented the best qualities of Islamic scholarship.
Grand Ayatollah Sobhani praised the historical work of the late Hojatoleslam Davani, written while Ayatollah Behbahani was still alive, noting that Davani’s book preserved a clear, faithful portrait of Behbahani’s intellectual contributions and moral excellence.
“It is enough to read just a few pages of this valuable work to appreciate the magnitude of his scholarly stature,” he remarked.
A personal gesture of devotion
In a heartfelt passage, Grand Ayatollah Sobhani expressed his desire to be counted “among the buyers of Yusuf-e-Zaman”—a metaphor evoking love, loyalty, and spiritual pursuit.
He concluded by extending his greetings to the participants of the ceremony and offering prayers for the spiritual elevation and divine pleasure of the late Ayatollah Behbahani.
The message was signed:
Qom – Imam Sadiq (AS) Institute
Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani
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