Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani's Message
on the Occasion of the Anniversary of the Destruction
of Samarra Shrine

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate the Merciful

The twenty third of the month of Muharram coincides with the sad anniversary of bombing and destruction of the holy shrines in Samarra, a mournful event for Islam, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and the Ahlalbayt (a.s.). The demolition of the mausoleum of Imam Ali Al Hadi and Imam Hasan Al Askari was not only an insult and an apparent catastrophe but also an act of animosity against all Muslims and the entirety of the Islamic world. As per the order of the Quran and the Holy Prophet of Islam, Shiites and Sunnis do not maintain any doubt in regards to the greatness, dignity and respect of the Ahlalbayt (a.s.). This event is indicative of the hatred, animosity, ignorance of a number of anti-religious, material-minded and godless people. Those who masterminded the bombing and carried out the attack are the ones who have inflicted the biggest harms and calamities on Islam over the entire history of Islam and Quran. Desecration of the household (Ahlalbayt) of the Holy Prophet is desecration of the Prophet (pbuh) himself and the Quran. Can they be separated from each other?
The enemies of Islam and the progeny of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) should know that such events make Muslims and Shiites more steadfast in their beliefs. It is necessary for Muslims especially the Shiites and more particularly the Iranian nation not to forget this incident and be mournful while commemorating this day. The clerics and lecturers as well as the public media particularly radio and television channels should further elaborate on this matter. We must know that Imamat (divine leadership) is the beating heart of Islam and Quran.
I extend my condolences again to the Imam of Time, Imam Mahdi (a.s.) and I pray to Almighty Allah to hasten his reappearance and console our saddened and injured hearts with his coming - insha Allah.

Muhammad Fazel Lankarani
12/Feb/2007