Hawzah News Agency- Ayatollah Seyyed Yasin al-Mousavi, Friday Prayer Imam of Baghdad and a senior lecturer at the Najaf Seminary, used his Friday sermon — delivered on the 10th of Muharram— to lay out the doctrinal, political, and regional dimensions of the Ashura uprising, emphasizing its central role in shaping the religious, political, and social identity of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT).
Ashura: The foundation of Shia identity
Ayatollah al-Mousavi stated that the event of Ashura was never simply a chapter in history, but rather the very foundation upon which the doctrinal, political, and cultural existence of Shia Muslims has been built throughout the centuries.
"Followers of the Husseini school have constantly been subjected to various forms of pressure, oppression, and erasure," he said. "This has prevented the realization of the model of just governance first established by Imam Ali (PBUH), the Commander of the Faithful."
Justice is a religious obligation, not a political choice
The senior cleric stressed that the effort to establish divine justice and a government rooted in Islamic values is not merely a political choice, but a religious obligation of the Muslim Ummah and its leaders.
"For this reason, reformism, continuous effort, and a conscious, intelligent political struggle to protect the interests of the Ummah and safeguard Islam must continue," al-Mousavi said.
Iraq: No return to dictatorship
Turning to Iraq's internal situation, the Friday Prayer Imam stressed the need to prevent the return of despotism and the monopolization of power under any pretext.
"The sacrifices made by the Iraqi nation over past decades will not allow dictatorship to reproduce itself, nor permit partisan and personal interests to be placed above the public good," he said.
Corruption and national wealth
Ayatollah al-Mousavi sharply criticized ongoing financial and administrative corruption in state institutions, saying the repeated exposure of major corruption cases makes the need for legal accountability and the prosecution of all those involved — regardless of their position or rank — all the more urgent.
Addressing Iraq's economic and oil affairs, he expressed concern over certain oil contracts signed with foreign companies, warning that some of these agreements do not serve Iraq's national interests and must be reviewed to protect the rights of the nation and its resources.
Shifting regional balance of power
On regional developments and Iran-US relations, al-Mousavi pointed to recent understandings in the region as an indicator of significant strategic shifts.
"The balance of power in the region is changing at an accelerated pace — developments whose direct effects on the future of the region will soon become apparent," he said.
The Iraqi cleric also praised the steadfastness and resistance of Lebanese resistance forces in the face of regional and international pressures.
Ashura and the culture of awaiting
Concluding his sermon, Ayatollah al-Mousavi connected the spiritual dimensions of Ashura to the culture of awaiting the promised savior, calling on the faithful to embrace hope, sustained effort, and readiness to support the truth and establish justice.
He prayed for Muslim nations to be shielded from seditions and wars, and for security, stability, and tranquility to be granted to the peoples of the region, asking God Almighty to bestow dignity, safety, and well-being upon Iraq and all Islamic countries.
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