“Ayatollah Dozhdoozani Tabriz”: Our Youth are Becoming Atheist, Christian, Bahai, and Zoroastrian, Why?
“Ayatollah Dozhdoozani Tabriz” addressed preachers saying: Our youth are becoming atheist, Christian, Bahai, and Zoroastrian, why? And we are doing nothing about it.
Ayatollah Dozhdoozani Tabriz, on the eve of Ramadan, in his jurisprudence course at the Great Mosque of Qom, addressing preachers said: “Our youth today are becoming atheist, becoming Bahai, Christian and Zoroastrian, and perhaps even Sunni. Why? Then either there is no preaching from our side, or our preaching is of such a nature that it has no effect.”
He spoke about preaching and its conditions and quality in the present era and the people’s responsibility: “Just as in the time of the Prophet, some people from their communities and lands traveled to Medina to learn the sciences of religion, and after learning, returned to their communities and explained what they had learned to their people, today this responsibility also falls upon me, you, and the students who come to Qom and Najaf.
Today this foundation of responsibility is mine and yours, and in these paths I must say that ‘other people will not accept this’ is not acceptable and should not be said. In previous years we sent many preachers to deprived areas and around Azerbaijan, to nearly 500 regions, and this was when at first there was no reception, but gradually the conduct of these preachers had an effect and everyone became devoted to religion.”
Ayatollah Tabriz, referring to the fact that negligence and excuses are not acceptable, declared: “We who are soldiers of Imam al-Zaman, do they accept such excuses and negligence from us? We have abandoned the orphans of the Ahl al-Muhammad in this age of occultation, we make excuses and act negligently. Today our children have problems with monotheism, with Imamate and guardianship, with the issue of the Quran and… they have problems and doubts. Who should tell them about these? You are young and you see these spaces and these virtual spaces and how the enemy operates. Today it is our responsibility to speak more on pulpits and in gatherings, and in our opinion today the most important matters are the principles of Twelver Shia Islam. Our youth today are becoming atheist, becoming Bahai, becoming Christian, becoming Zoroastrian, and perhaps even becoming Sunni. Why? Then either there is no preaching from our side, or our preaching is of such a nature that it has no effect.”
He continued regarding preaching religion with good character and reasonable speech: “My dear ones, do not be satisfied with these newspaper games and everyday trivial talk. There is no shame for me and you after all these years that we have studied. Should we not tell people about treatises and al-Urwa? Should we not tell people about the virtues of the Imams? Unfortunately in our pulpits and gatherings there is no mention of the rulings and beliefs of Twelver Shia. In conclusion, I advise you, dear ones, that in preaching, which must be with compassion, kindness, and gentleness, and in supporting the orphans of Ahl al-Muhammad, do not fall short or neglect. God willing, you will succeed in this matter.”
