Hawzah News Agency- The senior cleric made the remarks in a message to a conference commemorating the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny).
The full text of the message is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and his pure progeny.
God Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وُدًّا﴾
(Surah Maryam, Verse 96)
"Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds—the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection."
Speaking about the greatness and spiritual stations of the Prophet of Islam is no easy task, for his eminence stands at the center of the circle of virtues, and all lines of virtue converge upon him equally. If one were to examine any virtue—whether courage, asceticism, knowledge or otherwise—all such virtues have reached perfection in his blessed existence, with none taking precedence over another. Therefore, with apologies, I offer my message in brief.
The blessed verse recited above informs us of a creational reality: that for those who believe and perform righteous deeds, God places love and affection for them in the hearts of people. It is as though there exists a direct relationship between serving society and the creation of love in people's hearts.
This verse indeed holds true for all divine prophets as well. Among all nations, prophets occupy a lofty station in the hearts of people, for they dedicated their entire existence to the intellectual and rational elevation of human societies. They turned humanity away from the worship of stone, wood and other created beings, guiding them toward monotheism and human perfection.
In this regard, the Holy Quran defines one of the duties of Muslims toward the Holy Prophet as follows:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ﴾
(Surah Al-A'raf, Verse 157)
"So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him—it is those who will be the successful."
In this verse, God calls Muslims to four duties regarding the Holy Prophet:
First, «آمَنُوا بِهِ» — to believe in him and his sacred law.
Second, «وَعَزَّرُوهُ» — to honor and revere him.
Third, «وَنَصَرُوهُ» — to support him.
Fourth, «وَاتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ» — to follow the light that was sent down with him.
It is noteworthy that the two phrases «وَعَزَّرُوهُ» and «وَنَصَرُوهُ» appear together, with the former referring specifically to the glorification, reverence and commemoration of the Prophet's station.
Certain Quranic verses further indicate that one of the blessings God bestowed upon the Holy Prophet was the elevation and widespread renown of his name and remembrance, as He states:
﴿أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ؛ وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ؛ الَّذِي أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ؛ وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ﴾
(Surah Ash-Sharh, Verses 1–4)
"Have We not uplifted your heart for you ˹O Prophet, And We removed from you your burden, which had weighed upon your back. and elevated your renown for you?"
Accordingly, any conference, lecture, poem, article or social activity that serves to honor and elevate the name and station of the Holy Prophet can be regarded as an instance of
«وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ».
This conference, therefore, is itself a manifestation of this blessed verse.
Since every act that elevates the name of the Holy Prophet in society influences people's inclination toward him, it has been reported that the British Foreign Secretary warned approximately one hundred years ago about the spread of the name and remembrance of the Prophet of Islam, saying:
«فما دام القرآن یُتلی، والکعبة یُطاف، ومحمدٌ یُذکر فی المآذن، والنصرانیة فی خطر عظیم »
"As long as the Quran is recited, the Kaaba is circumambulated, and the name of Muhammad is proclaimed from the minarets, Christianity faces a grave danger."
It is astonishing that certain Islamic sects have declared the holding of such commemorative gatherings to be forbidden.
We have but one further point to make. The disciples of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) asked him to pray that God send down a heavenly table spread for them. Jesus supplicated:
﴿اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا﴾
(Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 114)
"O God, our Lord, send down to us a table spread from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us."
The question arises: the heavenly table was nothing more than a provision that satisfied their physical needs for a short period and quelled their hunger. If such a blessing—despite its limited effect—was worthy of being declared a festival by Jesus Christ, then what can be said of the Prophet Muhammad?
The birth of the Prophet of Islam was a light that illuminated the world of humanity, and the light of his existence will guide mankind until eternity, until the Day of Resurrection. Is it not befitting for all to celebrate his birth as a festival, to recite the verses revealed in his honor, and to recount the poems composed in his praise? This is, of course, conditional upon such ceremonies remaining free from all impurities and matters contrary to Islamic law and the dignity of his eminence.
In conclusion, I wish to note that the organizers of this conference are deserving of appreciation for every service rendered in honor of the Messenger of God. Even those who have composed a poem, written an article or produced a film in this path shall, God willing, be rewarded.
And peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings.
Jafar Sobhani
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