Hawzah News Agency- Speaking at a gathering in Qom at the office of the Supreme Leader's representative in India, Hojatoleslam Sayyid Sadiq Hosseini, head of India's Council for the Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, described a spiritual and social atmosphere across the subcontinent unlike anything in the nation's recorded history.
"The scenes that unfolded in India following the martyrdom of Iran’s Supreme Leader are without precedent," Hosseini declared. "Until just days before, restrictions existed in some areas on displaying his image. That changed overnight. His picture appeared in every lane and street, carried in the hands of mourners. People streamed from the most remote villages to city centers for memorial ceremonies. One can confidently say no town or village remained without a gathering held in his honor."
Key Role of Leadership Representative in Uniting Mourners
Hosseini praised the tireless efforts of Hojatoleslam Abdul Majid Hakimollahi, the representative of the Supreme Leader in India, who traveled continuously to various regions, attending every commemoration and delivering a message of unity and empathy. He also expressed heartfelt appreciation to all Indian ethnicities and faiths who shared in the grief with profound human spirit.
A Nation United: From Sikhs to Hindus, Christians to Sufis
The late Leader became a rallying point for national and interfaith unity. Ideological differences were set aside, and all social classes converged on a single platform of mourning.
Sikh communities issued heartfelt statements and held dedicated ceremonies. Prominent yoga guru Baba Ramdev praised the Leader's character while speaking positively of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and the Shia school of thought. Hindu religious leaders—acharyas—and followers of Jainism attended memorials to express their deep condolences. India's Christian community also joined the nationwide commemorations in full solidarity.
Sufi Orders Mourn the 'Martyred Leader'
A striking dimension was the sweeping response from Sunni and Sufi circles. Hosseini reported that the subcontinent's greatest Sufi centers, including the world-renowned shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, hosted magnificent ceremonies. Sufi masters and disciples wept openly at the shrine, and today they take pride in their closeness to the Shia school of thought and to Iran.
Sunni Political and Religious Elite Stand in Solidarity
Top-tier Sunni figures described the loss as a tragedy for the entire Muslim Ummah. Sayyid Saadatullah Hosseini, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and officials from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind conveyed their condolences at the Iran Culture House in Delhi. Sayyid Sarwar Chishti, custodian of the Ajmer Sharif shrine, and former Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid led diplomatic and religious delegations in meetings with Hojatoleslam Hakimollahi. Prominent Sunni thinker Maulvi Sajjad Nomani, visiting Iran's cultural mission, issued a stark warning to the Islamic world: "The attacks by America and Israel are not attacks on Shias alone. They are attacks on the entire body of Islam."
Hostile Elements Neutralized by Popular Wave
Hojatoleslam Hosseini also pointed to three hostile currents active in India: circles affiliated with the U.S. and Israel, anti-Shia elements, and Saudi-backed Salafist groups. "These factions were daily churning out anti-Iranian videos and content, seeking to ignite discord," he said. "But the awakening of the Indian nation and the massive wave of popular affection following the Leader's martyrdom neutralized all these conspiracies and slanders, proving that truth will ultimately cut through all sedition." The positive role of Indian seminarians in media, clarifying the "message of truth" and enlightening public opinion during this sensitive period, was also acknowledged.
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