Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a ceremony marking the seventh anniversary of Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi’s passing, held on Wednesday evening at the jurist’s Hussainiyeh, Hojatoleslam Nazari Monfared highlighted the enduring influence of the late scholar’s life and works on Iran’s religious seminaries.
Referring to the inevitability of death, Nazari Monfared said that remembrance of mortality is essential for spiritual awareness, noting that the world is a passage rather than a permanent abode.
“Many generations lived before us and many will come after us,” he said. “God Almighty has not granted immortality to any human being.” He cited a Qur’anic verse emphasizing that no human has been made eternal, underlining the transient nature of worldly life.
Lessons from the Lives of the Ahl al-Bayt
Marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him), the cleric referred to narrations from the Imam’s life to illustrate humanity’s ignorance of the unseen and the consequences of arrogance and negligence.
He recounted an incident reported in historical sources in which a young man acted disrespectfully toward Imam Hadi (peace be upon him) and was warned of his impending death, describing the episode as a reminder that pride, especially in youth, often blinds individuals to the realities of aging, accountability, and mortality.
Nazari Monfared also urged believers to reflect on the final verses of Surah Luqman, which stress that knowledge of the future, sustenance, and the moment and place of death belong solely to God. He warned that neglecting these truths in today’s fast-paced and mechanized world can have serious spiritual and moral consequences.
Remembrance of Death as a Path to Reform
Quoting a narration from Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him), Nazari Monfared emphasized the importance of remembering God, remembering death, and frequently reciting the Holy Qur’an.
He said the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) consistently encouraged believers to prepare for the Hereafter and to recognize the fleeting nature of worldly life. “Remembering death does not lead to despair,” he said. “Rather, it encourages self-reform, moral correction, and compensation for past shortcomings.”
Scholarly Depth and Spiritual Conduct
Turning to the personality of Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi, Nazari Monfared described him as a rare figure who combined scholarly brilliance with exemplary devotion.
“He possessed exceptional mastery in jurisprudence and its principles,” he said, recounting testimonies from scholars who attended the late jurist’s Istifta sessions. According to these accounts, complex jurisprudential debates that remained unresolved after lengthy discussions were often clarified by Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi with a few concise yet decisive statements.
“This reflected a complete internalization of jurisprudential principles and a method based on precise scientific inference rather than conjecture,” he added.
Nazari Monfared, who said he had years of close association with the late scholar, recalled witnessing his constant readiness to respond to even minor questions with clarity and depth. He noted that Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi’s extensive body of written works alone is sufficient evidence of his scholarly authority and intellectual rigor.
Commitment to Worship and Spiritual Discipline
The cleric also highlighted the devotional aspect of Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi’s life, describing his consistent commitment to recommended acts of worship alongside obligatory religious duties.
“I personally witnessed his regular observance of daily voluntary prayers, night prayers, and other recommended acts with remarkable persistence,” Nazari Monfared said.
He likened this conduct to the well-known Hadith Qudsi in which God says that a servant draws nearer through voluntary acts until becoming beloved, at which point divine guidance permeates the servant’s actions. “Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi’s spiritual discipline was a living embodiment of this narration,” he said.
Nazari Monfared concluded by reaffirming that Ayatollah Hashemi Shahroudi remains a lasting example of a comprehensive religious scholar—one whose integration of knowledge, ethics, and devotion continues to inspire scholars and students alike.
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