Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stated that we are currently witnessing unprecedented attacks on Islam by our enemies and added that our duty is to respond to these attacks, RASA news agency reported.
Speaking at an academic competition for seminarians at Qom’s Amir al-Momenin Madrassah, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi said that that alongside increasing their knowledge, the seminarians should also strengthen their ethical behaviour and added that Islam emerged from an environment full of superstition and the title of the “Age of Ignorance” in pre-Islamic times is clear for everyone.
The revered source of emulation added that the Prophet Muhammad’s immense knowledge, despite his emergence from such an environment, is a “miracle.”
Explaining the importance of knowledge in society, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi explained that the main assets of any society are the people and added that Japan and Germany were crushed by their defeat at the end of World War II, but after a while the people of these countries were able to rebuild their own country and now, they are among the most advanced countries in the world.
The professor in the Islamic Seminary of Qom stressed that the seminaries must nurture and invest in their top students so that they can meet the needs of society.
In another part of his speech, Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi stated that Islam has never before faced the number of attacks as it faces in the present era.
“Today, there are thousands of media channels broadcasting propaganda against Islam and the Shi’a school of thought night and day and our duties during this time will become even heavier,” he said.
Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said we should not be passive in the face of these offensive acts and said: “Thankfully today, with all this destruction and conflict in the world, the Shi’a school of thought is growing and the seminaries need to discover and nurture top talent to act against this invasion.”