Marzieh Hashemi: Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) showed me the right way of life + video and photos

According to Fars News Agency’s Radio and Television reporter, Marzieh Hashemi, an American-born journalist and host of the Overseas Broadcasting Corporation, who was a guest of the “Sign of Devotion” program of the Do Cima channel, said about her first acquaintance with the name of Seyyed al-Shohada (peace be upon him): My story is with other guests. You are different. I became a Muslim at the age of 22-23. Before that, I spent two years researching, comparing and asking questions about Islam and Christianity. I went to different places and inquired about this matter. When I realized that Islam is the religion of truth and truth, I researched about different branches of Islam and then I got to know Ahl al-Bayt and different stories of Ahl al-Bayt. It was there that I saw and heard the name of Imam Hussain (AS) for the first time. The incident of Karbala and what happened to the Prophet’s grandson was strange to me. The first Muharram after I became a Muslim, I better understood the events of this incident and what happened to Imam Hussain (AS).

He added: After becoming a Muslim, I was in a Shiite center in America. They had started and they would say Hossein, Hossein and Roza was read. Until then, I had never heard of Rozah. At first, I was surprised to see breast-feeding women, and later, I shed tears when I heard the name of Hussain bin Ali (AS), the story of Karbala, and the events that happened.

Every episode of Karbala incident is affecting and painful for me

Hashemi explained about which part of the events of Karbala is the most influential for him: Every part of the event of Karbala is influential and painful for me. The first time I heard about Ali Asghar (AS), I couldn’t understand how they could do this to a child. How quickly after the death of the Prophet, people forgot him. How could they not give water to a small child? This part of the event was heavy for me. Of course, as I said, as a new Muslim who entered this religion by studying, it was hard for me to believe all the calamities that had befallen Imam Hussain (a.s.) and his family.

In response to the question of which of the imams do you take refuge in the most, he said: In different parts of my life, I had one of the imams as a support. In the beginning, it was Imam Hussain (a.s.) and in the other part of my life, Hazrat Zainab (a.s.). At present, Amir al-Momineen (AS) is my support. In this life, I learned about Ahl al-Bayt, that each of them is a role model for all of us. There is nothing in this world that we can experience that they have not experienced. A few years ago, I was in prison in America at the same time as Hazrat Zainab was born. All that time, I was thinking about Hazrat Zainab (pbuh) and the hardships she had gone through. I used to tell myself that my problems and situation are nothing compared to the hardships and bitter experiences of Hazrat Zainab (PBUH). I learned that the events that I experience in life, bitter and sweet, I have to trust in God. When there are certain ways and signs of Ahl al-Bayt in any situation, everything is solved. We all know what the main goal is and what we should do.

You made the right choice!

This American-Iranian reporter explained about the reactions of his family after his conversion to Islam: When my perspective, behavior, speaking and communication had changed, it was difficult for my family. At first it was like that, but over time they realized. At first, my mother was a bit guarded as to why I became a Muslim, which I thought was normal. But one day before his death, he said that your choice was right. He said that when I compare you with my other five children, I see that your behavior and actions are better. I said, mother, it is not too late and you can become a Muslim. He said it is past me. But you made the right choice.

He also said about insulting the Qur’an: the little people who do this are very low culturally. They are very afraid of the Quran. This is a wave that has existed for various reasons throughout history and there were always those who were anti-Islam. After the September 11 incident, many attacked Muslims and Islamic values. The same two fronts of good and evil 1400 years ago in Karbala are still there. What did they do in America? After the September 11 incident in America, a number of veiled women removed their hijab for fear of confrontations with Muslims. Many men who were not Muslims were killed just because they had virtues. There were many attacks on Islam and Muslims, but after this incident, many people became Muslims and therefore they are afraid of this book.

In response to the question of what would you suggest if you wanted to introduce Islam to Christians, the reporter and anchor of Press TV explained: I recommend that they go to the shrines of Imams, to Karbala and Najaf, and this is the best experience. I was on the Arbaeen walk and I was with those who were not Muslims and I saw how they felt. There is a strange energy in Arbaeen. They were surprised and said that there is definitely something here. If I could invite them for the Arbaeen walk, I would do so so that they could have this experience themselves.

In response to the question, Hashemi said: “I talk to the Ahl al-Bayt in a different way.” It is not at all like saying that I will become a Muslim because of you and you should do such and such for me. They did me a favor and showed me the right way and therefore they don’t owe me anything. When I look back, I can say that I could live 60 years with the same old life and not even hear the name of Ahl al-Bayt. I tried to teach my children and grandchildren to have a sense of intimacy with the family. Talk to them after prayer or whenever they want.

He said about the reason why Muslims are interested in the flag of Imam Hussain’s shrine dome: This flag is dear to us. We like to touch it and talk about Imam Hussain (AS). The existence of Imam Hussain (a.s.) is not like ours, and therefore when there is something like his flag or flag, it is a sign of him, and by touching them, we get a sense of closeness to him. For me, Karbala is the center of love and I thank God that I had the opportunity and happiness to touch this flag in this program.

At the end, in response to the talk of the host, Hashemi said, imagine that after going through this path on the way to becoming a Muslim, Seyyed al-Shohda is now standing behind you and saying thank you for trying to provide me with a friend, he said: I have to thank him I can’t imagine that he will come for me as a sinner. It is very hard for me to imagine and I only pray that my family will be happy with me when I enter that world.

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