Unity and avoidance of division is the first step towards a civilized society

Pointing to a part of Imam Ali’s Ziarat, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli said, “In Ziarat for Imam Ali (A.S) we say that he is the right path and the touchstone for our deeds, it means that he teaches us how to live. And another important part of that is the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S) wanted to construct a civilized society”.

In his Quranic exegesis class, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli asked, “When will a society become civilized?” and answered, “The first step is for people to be united and in other words they should avoid division and be harmonious. And the second step is to consider each other’s problems as their problems and have ‘Taawon’ (cooperation). The third step is not only considering each other’s problems as their problems, but also help solving each other’s problems with dignity and honor. In other words, the cooperation should not be as an economical trade and one should not help the other expecting due cooperation and help – it should be a real dignified and honorable conduct. Why? Because Allah (SwT) said in Quran “Verily we have honored the Children of Adam” [17:70] and you – Prophets and twelve Imams – are Allah’s Caliphs so you should treat humanity honorably and Quran and Ahl al-Bayt and Prophet Muhammad which are Allah’s Caliphs teach us people that it is our duty to treat each other honorable.”

“The position of Allah’s Caliph maybe is not for ordinary people but it is said that you can manage the society honorable as such the pious people of the society follow you and this makes you ‘Imam al-Mottaqin’ (The Imam of the Pious). It means that we can also read this Dua in Quran which Allah (SwT) instruct us that we are supposed to treat each other honorably and say: ‘وَ اجْعَلْنا لِلْمُتَّقینَ إِماماً’ (and make us an example for the righteous) [25:74] ”, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli concluded.