This ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a brief speech from Mr. Abolghasemi, the Cultural Counselor. In his remarks, he welcomed the attendees and extended his congratulations to the compatriots and Muslims present on the occasion of Eid al-Ghadir, the greatest celebration of God, "Eidullah al-Akbar." He highlighted the significance of Eid al-Ghadir as one of the greatest Islamic festivals and emphasized the responsibility of Muslims to introduce the event of Ghadir and the guardianship of Imam Ali (AS) to the world. He also prayed to Almighty God for the best blessings on this blessed night for all Shia Muslims around the world and for the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (AJ). The Cultural Counselor then invited Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Hajj Agha Sajed, the representative of Al-Mustafa International University, to deliver a speech.

 

 

Mr. Sajed, after praising Almighty God and congratulating the audience on the occasion of the decade of Imamate and Wilaya and the blessed Eid al-Ghadir, stated that the night of Eid al-Ghadir is a night of great significance, containing a profound spiritual dimension. Imam Ali (AS) is someone who, if truly recognized, the true essence of Islam would have been fulfilled. As followers of the Ahlul Bayt, it is our duty to learn the essential lessons from Eid al-Ghadir, particularly the importance of understanding and recognizing the true significance of Ghadir. He continued by saying that one of the strongest and most undeniable pieces of evidence for the Shia belief in the Imamate and leadership of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) is the Hadith of Ghadir. He briefly explained it and referred to the verse, "O Messenger, proclaim what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not, you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people" (Qur'an 5:67), emphasizing that this means if the Prophet (PBUH) had not announced the leadership and succession of Imam Ali (AS), he would not have completed his divine mission. Therefore, we conclude that Imamate is a matter of great importance, and understanding the rank of Imamate is not something easily attained. He further said that the epistemological discussion of Ghadir is very important and if there was a correct understanding of Ghadir, the Karbala incident would not have happened. The Shiites of Ali Ibn Abi Talib and the followers of Hazrat Ali (AS) have the duty to explain the incident of Ghadir wherever they can, whether at home or at work. Therefore, in order to know Ghadir better, it is necessary to take Ghadir to our homes and celebrate this day.

 

 

Mr. Sajed stated that we have a basic understanding of Ghadir, as well as a more profound, insightful perspective that Imam Reza (AS) beautifully articulated in the Hadith of the Golden Chain (Silsilat al-Dhahab). According to this Hadith, belief in monotheism and the Imamate leads to salvation from the fire of Hell. Therefore, the path to knowing God is through Ali (AS), and without Ali (AS), one cannot reach God. Thus, the insight of the heart is far more important than that of the eyes, and we should ask God to open the eyes of our hearts and grant us the ability to deepen our understanding of the Imams, our faith, and the Quran. In this blessed night, the foremost of all our prayers should be for the hastening of the reappearance of our Master, Imam Mahdi (AJ).

At the end of his speech, he honored the beloved and martyr President Ayatollah Raisi and his esteemed companions who sacrificed their lives in the path of service. He invited compatriots to participate enthusiastically and robustly at the ballot box to elect a righteous individual to continue the path of our martyr president.

 

Then, Mr. Esmaeil Zadeh, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic, congratulated and extended his best wishes on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Ghadir. He expressed gratitude for the valuable words of Hojjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Hajj Agha Sajed and wished him continued success. In light of the upcoming fourteenth presidential election, he called upon Iranian compatriots residing in the Philippines to participate in the elections, stating that the fourteenth presidential election of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be held on Saturday, Tir 8, 1403 (June 28, 2024) from 9 AM to 8 PM at the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy. He emphasized that the presence of compatriots is a significant step toward the growth and prosperity of the country, and may God Almighty determine what is best for this country and nation.

 

 

The screening of selected video clips, holding a competition, and presenting blessed prizes were other memorable programs of the evening. At the end, guests were served at the blessed table of Imam Ali (AS).