Tabatabai: Maintaining national unity is a basic necessity against external pressures

Sarab - Imam Juma Sarab emphasized on maintaining solidarity against external pressures and said: national unity and adherence to values are factors in overcoming challenges and thwarting the enemies' efforts to weaken the country.

According to Mehr reporter, Hojjatul-Islam wal-Muslimin Seyyed Mohammad Tabatabai, in his Friday prayer sermons this week in Sarab, advised the worshipers to have divine piety, he spoke about the importance of moral virtue of modesty, the place of faith in personal and social life, the life of Hazrat Zainab (PBUH) and the necessity of standing up against external pressures and emphasized: the true value of people and their adherence to beliefs and moral principles is revealed in difficult situations and when faced with tests.

In the first part of his speech, Imam Juma Sarab, referring to the importance of piety, considered modesty to be one of the important moral virtues, which, according to him, has received less attention in today's society.

Citing Islamic traditions, Tabatabaei stated: Modesty is not limited to external behavior, but is an internal state that prevents a person from committing sin, rudeness, indecent behavior, and indulging in lowliness. This feature helps a person to monitor his speech and actions before others evaluate his behavior.

Referring to the narrations of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and Amirul Momineen Ali (a.s.), he listed modesty as a sign of faith and wisdom and added: In religious teachings, lack of modesty is associated with weakness in moral and intellectual adherence; Because modesty acts as a barrier against slips and prevents a person from engaging in behaviors that harm his dignity.

Stating that modesty should be considered in three areas, Imam Juma Sarab considered the first area to be modesty in front of God and said: Man should always see himself in the presence of God and by understanding the divine position, he should avoid wrong behaviors. Neglecting God's presence in life is the foundation of error and crossing moral and religious boundaries.

Tabatabai introduced self-modesty and conscience as the second field of this virtue and explained: Man should be honest with himself and not behave in such a way that his conscience is offended by his actions. Paying attention to pure human nature and self-care are important factors in maintaining moral health.

He considered respecting the privacy of others as the third dimension of modesty and added: respecting people, observing politeness in speech and behavior, and avoiding actions that harm human dignity are among the manifestations of this moral virtue.

Imam Juma Sarab, referring to the narration of "Al-Hayya Sabb Eli Kal Jameel" said: "Modesty leads a person to moral beauty and proper behavior." Also, the theme of the narrative "If you have no shame, do whatever you want" is a warning about the consequences of not paying attention to this virtue.

He considered the strengthening of modesty to be effective in strengthening family relationships, preventing moral and social harms, and preserving the dignity and reputation of people, and expressed hope that the society would provide the basis for the growth of human virtues by returning to moral values.

faith and persistence; The standard for measuring people in difficult situations

Tabatabai, in another part of the sermons, referring to the theme of the words of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) that the truth and essence of human beings are revealed in the change of circumstances, stated: difficult circumstances are a test to measure the level of faith, honesty, patience and adherence of people to their principles and beliefs.

He stated that the behavior of people in peaceful days does not necessarily reflect the depth of their beliefs, and added: What reveals the true character of people is the way they face problems, pressures and difficulties in life. Persistence in the path of truth and maintaining moral principles in such conditions shows the strength of a person's character and beliefs.

Referring to the economic, political, social and security pressures on the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Juma Sarab pointed out that the enemies have tried to prevent the people from continuing their path by increasing problems and weakening public morale, but the presence and stability of the people has shown that external pressures do not necessarily lead to the surrender of the society.

Criticizing people who, according to him, distance themselves from their positions and commitments in difficult situations, he emphasized: preserving the dignity and independence of the country requires adherence to principles and avoiding hasty decisions in the face of external pressures.

Tabatabai also pointed to the presence of the people in the social and political scenes and considered the people's cooperation with the leadership as one of the important factors in maintaining the country's unity and said: "Iranian people have shown that they stand up against pressures and want to preserve independence and national interests even in difficult situations."

Emphasis on the role of faith in the defense power of the country

In the continuation of his speech, Imam Juma Sarab emphasized the importance of strengthening the religious and spiritual foundations of the armed forces, referring to the anniversary of the establishment of the political ideological organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.

Stating that the country's defense power is not only dependent on military equipment and facilities, he said: faith, spirit of sacrifice, commitment and adherence to religious values are important factors of the armed forces' authority.

Referring to the approach of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran in strengthening the religious foundations of the army, Tabatabaei said: In addition to having military capabilities, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran operate by relying on religious beliefs and the spirit of responsibility in the defense of the country.

He added: In a situation where the military forces are facing various difficulties and losses, what can keep them steady in carrying out their missions is having faith, the spirit of resistance and adherence to principles.

In this context, Imam Juma Sarab appreciated the armed forces and those involved in the political ideological field of the army and wished them success in the way of protecting the country and the security of the people.

Hazrat Zainab (pbuh); The model of crisis management and maintaining unity

In another part of his speech, Tabatabai, referring to the birth anniversary of Hazrat Zainab Kabri (pbuh) and Nurse's Day, considered this occasion as an opportunity to read the character traits of the Prophet and appreciate the efforts of nurses.

Congratulating on Nurse's Day, he appreciated the services of the nursing staff in caring for patients and their continuous efforts in difficult conditions and considered the role of this group to be important in maintaining the health of the society.

Referring to the position of Hazrat Zainab (pbuh) in the history of Islam, Imam Juma Sarab introduced her as a model for faith, courage, patience, insight and responsibility and said: The ability to manage crisis, maintain unity and stand on the path of beliefs are among the characteristics that can be clearly seen in the biography of Hazrat Zainab (pbuh).

Emphasizing that the use of religious models is not limited to gender, he stated: Will, faith, courage and effort in the path of truth are the main criteria of human excellence and the life of Hazrat Zainab (PBUH) can be an inspiration for all people in the society in personal, social and political fields.

Referring to the incident of Ashura and the events after it, Tabatabaei noted: The role of Hazrat Zainab (pbuh) was not limited to suffering, but she did not allow the message of Imam Hussain (pbuh) to be distorted in the propaganda of the Umayyad government by enlightening and speaking the truth in Kufa and Sham.

He added: Hazrat Zainab (PBUH) did not give up her mission in explaining the truth despite facing many difficulties and showed that patience and persistence along with insight and timely action can change the course of developments.

Pointing out that crises are a test to reveal the truth of human beliefs, Imam Juma Sarab said: The life of Hazrat Zainab (PBUH) shows that even in difficult situations, one can defend principles and values by maintaining faith, vigilance and cohesion.

Criticizing the policies of America and the Zionist regime

Tabatabai continued his speech by criticizing the policies of the US and the Zionist regime in the region and warned against trusting foreign powers and said: "International developments show that great powers always act based on their interests and countries should not tie their fate to their promises regardless of past experiences."

Referring to the developments in Ukraine, he considered this country as an example of the consequences of relying on the support of foreign powers, and criticizing America's approach towards its allies, he said: Countries should prioritize their national interests and independence in political and diplomatic decisions.

Referring to the situation in Yemen and the consequences of the war and humanitarian crisis in this country, Imam Juma Sarab criticized the policies of some regional powers and called for attention to the suffering of the people and those affected by the conflicts.

Stating that regional developments should be considered as an experience to understand the nature of power relations in the world, he emphasized: Nations should not assume that global powers will support their allies in all circumstances. Therefore, it is important to maintain independence, rely on internal capacities and be alert in foreign relations.

Protest against hijab restrictions in the Republic of Azerbaijan

In another part of his speech, Imam Juma Sarab criticized what he called the restriction of religious freedoms and the pressure on veiled women and girls, referring to the reports and materials raised about the restrictions related to hijab in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Emphasizing the necessity of respecting religious beliefs and human dignity, Tabatabai stated: People's religious beliefs should not become a factor for their deprivation or humiliation. He also pointed to the religious ties between the people of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and demanded that the authorities of this country pay more attention to the rights of citizens and their religious beliefs.

Criticizing what he called an insult to Iran and its leaders in some public spaces and social networks, he emphasized: preserving the sanctity of nations and respecting the principles of mutual respect should be considered in political and social relations.

Imam Juma Sarab also emphasized the need to support Shiites and other religious communities in different countries and said: Followers of the Ahl al-Bayt school should be sensitive to injustice and assault on human dignity and defend the rights of individuals within the framework of religious and human principles.