A delegation of scholars from Egypt’s al-Azhar visited the al-Askariyain Holy Shrine, in an initiative to spread the principles of peace and harmony and to receive blessings from the holy shrine within the delegation’s program to visit the holy shrines in Iraq and influential religious figures and organize future cultural conferences.
The head of the delegation Sayyid Abdul-Wali al-Jafri stated, "The level of generosity and kindness of the Iraqis in the service of the pilgrims of the Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, really delights the heart. Muslim countries should send missions of their students to Iraq to learn about the Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, how to serve them and the status of scholars. Iraqis introduced the value of the Ahlulbayt and gave them the rights of what God Almighty enjoined on Muslims, as in the verse 42:23, Allah says: (Say, [O Muhammad], I do not ask you for this message any payment [but] only good will through kinship.)”
“Filthy hands were extended to blow up the shrine of the two imams, peace be upon them, affecting Muslims in general and hurting the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, but thanks to the efforts of the people of Iraq and Iraq's wise supreme religious authority, the country is witnessing an important security transition," added al-Jafri.
The Azhar scholar referred to Ayatollah Sistani’s great religious verdict (fatwa) and commended the PMU’s victories against ISIS.