A Moment of Grace with Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi (HA)

On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversaries of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS), I was honored to attend a grand Ammamah Guzari ceremony; the traditional turban conferment, marking a student's readiness to carry the responsibilities of religious scholarship and service.

Amid the gathering, I was blessed to be in the presence of Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi (حفظه‌الله). Surrounded by scholars and seekers, securing a moment with him was no easy task. But when I was finally granted the opportunity, he turned to me with warmth and wisdom, and offered a piece of advice that left a lasting imprint on my heart:

بنده خدا باش و بندگان خدا را کمک کن

"Be a servant of God, and serve the people of God."

Simple, yet profound; his words were a reminder that true spirituality lies not only in devotion, but in service. To worship Allah is to uplift His creation. May we carry this message forward in our lives, with sincerity and purpose.