Inspired by…the meeting of the minarets and bells

Saturday 6^th March 2021. A date that, for many, will go down in religious history forever. During his visit to Iraq, Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, sat with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in his home and they both had a conversation. It was the first time in history that a Pontiff had met his equivalent in the Shia world [1]. It does not matter that we did not hear the contents of their conversation. It was private (although Francis revealed some brief areas they spoke about). It does not matter that there was no joint statement made by both following their 45-minute encounter. What matters is the world was able to witness on this date two people of faith who possess possibly some of the largest followings on the planet making a symbolic gesture; they had a chat about how the world can get better. This is inspiring.

In my opinion, the Shia and Catholic traditions have a natural affinity. I am lucky enough to experience in my personal life too with people close to me. Catholics believe that Jesus has divinely mandated successors who lead the Church. The Shia believe that Muhammad had divinely appointed successors who lead the Ummah. Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception of Mary and Shia Muslims believe Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, is too born sinless and pure. Both are also intercessors and a means towards the Divine. Mary is the mother figure of redemption in Catholicism as is Fatima in Shi’ism, foreshadowing the later tragedies of their respective sons (the crucifixion of Jesus and the killing of Hussain). The focus on the suffering of Jesus emphasised by Catholics and the passion of mourning the tragedy of Hussain by the Shia cannot be ignored either. It is not uncommon to see Iraqi Catholics visit the shrine of Hussain in Karbala to pay respect to his martyrdom.

Those who witnessed the brief news clips and images would have been struck by what they saw. For me it was a powerful moment that will stay imprinted in my mind. The contrast of Sistani in his black robes and Francis in his white locked in eye contact with awe was a wonderful sight. The images of them both holding hands bidding each other farewell, somewhat in a joint prayer, brought a tear to the eye. It is reported by those present that Francis, before leaving the building, took one last look at the room. Perhaps he was taken aback by the run-down alley Sistani lives in contrasted with the grandeur of the Vatican. Both hold the equivalent positions in their own faith traditions but their surroundings very much differ. Ayatollah Sistani is peacemaker with a love for justice. His actions contributed to the extremist Sunni group ISIS being defeated. He asked his office to make a statement asking the Iraqi people to protect their lives and religious heritage when the assault of ISIS became unbearable. Most of the Iraqi people unflinchingly obeyed him. He is a man with such global influence, yet he shuns photograph opportunities (with only handful on the internet), high profile meetings and lives in the most basic home.

Although contrasting in lifestyle, appearance and some beliefs, I believe Francis and Sistani have the exact same mindset. They believe just structures make peace and this doesn’t happen by itself. This meeting was a symbolic gesture of two men of faith with huge following in the world meeting on the same level because they have the same worldview – you need justice to create peace. Although Catholic-Shia dialogue has been happening for a very long time, this brought them even closer together. Ayatollah Sistani, due to his old age, is a very frail person physically. I have witnessed this in the times I have had the privilege to share an audience with him. He even needs support lifting his hand in order for him to shake someone’s hand. The fact that he stood up twice, once to greet and once to bid farewell, for the Pope demonstrates the respect he had and an example to me the manner I must conduct myself with others too. In my view, Pope Francis chose the absolute right person to meet in his first dialogue with a Shia authority.

Sistani lives right opposite the shrine of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam. Imam Ali told his governor once: “People are of two kinds: either your brother in faith or your equal in humanity” [2]. It is a wisdom I live by in my whole life and it dictates my professional life too. When Pope Francis landed in Baghdad, a large banner with this wisdom was displayed for him to see. The meeting between the minarets and bells was inspiring to me because the ethos of Imam Ali was epitomised through this. It gave me hope that if two global faith leaders can humble themselves to each other’s level to make the world a better place, then maybe we can do this as well. In a tough year for everyone, this moment gave me a further spring in my step as a RE practitioner and be able to say I was alive when this happened.

[1] Most Shia Muslims, during the occultation of the 12^th Imam, adhere to the institution of Marja’iyyah (religious authority) where they follow a high ranking Shia authority in matters of religious practice. The authority believed to have largest following in the Shia world is Grand Ayatollah Sistani. Other well-known authorities include the late Grand Ayatollah Khomeini and his successor Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, known as the Supreme Leader of Iran. More information on this concept can be found in Bdaiwi, Ahab and Hussain, Zameer (2017), 3.6 Marja Taqlid. In GCSE Religious Studies Shi′a Islam: Beliefs and Practices. Al Khoei Foundation.

[2] Nahjul Balagha (Peak of Eloquence), Letter 53