TEHRAN-On the evening of Thursday, one of the largest Quranic gatherings in the world took place at the Imam Reza (AS) Holy Shrine in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province, with more than 200,000 attendees who gathered to express their devotion to the Holy Quran.

Organized by the Quranic program “Mahfel” (literary meaning assembly), the event was held on the eve of the Islamic Unity Week and in celebration of the Imamate of Imam al-Mahdi (AS), the last of the Twelve Imams of Shia Muslims, Mehr reported on Friday.

The 12th Imam’s name is that of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He is referred to by many titles, such as al-Hujjah (the proof), al-Qa’im (the one who rises), and Sahib al-Zaman (guardian of the age). However, the most famous of his titles is al-Mahdi (the guided one). Imam al-Mahdi is the savior whom Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spoke of on numerous occasions. Scholars from both the Shia and Sunni schools of thought agree that the Messenger of God foretold of Imam al-Mahdi’s advent. “Even if no (period) remained left in time except for a single day, God would (still) send forth a man from my family to fill it with justice, just as it had been filled with injustice.” Imam al-Mahdi is said to be in occultation (ghayba) by divine will and will appear at the End of Times to rid the world of evil and injustice.

A significant portion of the event was dedicated to religious reflections. Hojatoleslam Qasemian emphasized the significance of Imamate through the “Hadith of the Golden Chain” (Hadith al-Silsilah al-Dhahab) narrated by Imam Reza (AS) and elaborated on verses of the Quran that highlight God's promises to righteous believers.

The event also underscored solidarity with the Palestinian people. Pilgrims chanted slogans like “Death to Israel” as a show of support for Palestine, with several Palestinian war victims taking the stage. Among them was Sheikh Talal Abdulrahman, a former prisoner in Israeli jails, who conveyed a message of gratitude from the Palestinian people to the Iranian audience. 

He spoke about the significance of unity among Muslims and the role of the Quran in raising an aware and resilient generation. “The Zionists have been occupying Al-Quds for years to tell the world that there is no name left of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam, but we, the Islamic Ummah, stand up and tell them that the Holy Prophet trained us in a way to clear the earth from the Zionists,” he added.

“The participants in this large Quranic meeting have now gathered together to renew their allegiance to the Prophet of Islam. With this huge gathering, you have shown that you are loyal to Islam, the word of God, and the word of the Messenger of God,” Abdulrahman noted.

Another prominent guest, Abdullah Abdullah, who recently lost 36 family members including his parents and children, in Israeli bombings, shared his personal tragedy and highlighted the ongoing struggles of the Palestinian people.

According to the latest reports, the Gaza death toll has passed 41,100 and over 95,100 Palestinians have been injured in the Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7, 2023.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

In addition to the spiritual and political messages, the event included cultural performances. 

The grand Quranic event at the Imam Reza Shrine not only celebrated the Quran but also served as a platform to express solidarity with oppressed peoples, particularly Palestinians. The presence of the families of martyrs and prisoners from Gaza further underscored the event's importance, while the dazzling fireworks created a memorable atmosphere for attendees.

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