Distortion of history in Kashan, Christianity borrows love from Imam Hassan Askari

The statements of the Friday prayer imam of Kashan regarding the use of the word "love" by Christians and the claim that it was borrowed from Hassan Askari, sparked much debate.

Reports and criticisms published about the claim of the Friday prayer leader of Kashan that “Imam Hassan Askari initiated love” indicate that his claim contradicts six centuries of Christian history and the teachings of the Holy Bible. In his sermons for Friday prayers in Kashan last Friday, Hojjatoleslam “Saeed Hosseini” made statements that have been met with critical reactions. He began by referring to religious occasions and said: “The eighth of Rabi’ is the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hassan Askari and the ninth of Rabi’ is the beginning of the Imamate of Hazrat Mahdi.”

The Friday Imam of Kashan then claimed that the concept of “love” to attract followers originated from Imam Hassan Askari. He stated: “Christianity and Baha’iism use the method of love to attract people, but the essence of this strategy belongs to Imam Hassan Askari.” He also added: “Imam Askari’s lesson for us is to treat Shiites and non-Shiites with kindness so that their love for Shiism is attracted.”

Such statements are clearly a distortion of history and a disregard for the truths of Christianity, because centuries before Islam, love was recognized as the essence of the Christian faith, and its centrality is clearly stated in the Holy Bible.

Christianity does not need to borrow from any other religion for the concept of love. The teachings of Jesus Christ have from the very beginning laid the foundation of faith on love. The Bible declares in 1 John 4:8: “God is love,” this divine truth being the source of all forgiveness, compassion, and sacrifice.

The Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16, also clearly states: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Does this truth, stated six centuries before the advent of Islam, need to be confirmed or attributed to someone else?

Even the explicit teachings of Jesus Christ show that love is not a propaganda tactic but the essence of faith. Jesus Christ says in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This was a universal call to love without boundaries, something that no other human ideology has ever gone so deep into.

The recent claim of the Friday Imam of Kashan not only shows ignorance of the history of Christianity, but also a kind of appropriation of what is desirable. It is as if they want to register the greatest message of the Christian faith in their name. But the truth does not change, love is the foundation of Christianity, it is rooted in the essence of God and was announced to the world centuries before Islam.