Aref Nasrallah

Sayyid Aref Muhammad Nasrallah (Arabic: عارف محمد آل نصرالله; born 1958) is an Iraqi Shia social activist, philanthropist, and official commissioner of the Ibn Fahad shrine and seminary.[2]

Sayyid

Aref Nasrallah
السيد عارف نصر الله
Born
Aref Muhammad Abid Nasrallah

1958 (age 64–65)
Karbala, Kingdom of Iraq
NationalityIraqi
Occupations
RelativesMohammed Hussain Nasrallah (first cousin)[1]
Hashem Nasrallah (first cousin, once removed)

He was one of the preeminent leaders of the Islamic Action Organisation.[3] He is currently also the director of grand Ayatollah, Sadiq al-Shirazi's public relations office in Iraq and has been holding this position since the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.[4]

Nasrallah is the founder of the al-Wala' wa al-Fida' wa al-Fateh Association, an organisation that helps revive religious Shia sites that are affected by war or terrorism, as well as hold functions to commemorate the memory of the Ahl al-Bayt.[5][6][7]

Early life

Nasrallah was born in Karbala, to Muhammad Nasrallah, a merchant and servant at the al-Abbas shrine. Both of his parents hail from the noble Al Faiz family, and claim agnatic descent from Muhammad's daughter Fatimah and her husband, Ali, the first Shia Imam.[8] His ancestors on some occasions ruled the city, and held custodianship of its holy sites.[9][10] Nasrallah grew up in Karbala, and spent his childhood serving with his father. Nasrallah's life took a turn when his father died in 1969, and he was taken under the care of his uncles. Nasrallah joined the risali movement, known as the Islamic Action Organisation (IOA) in 1973, after the injustices the Baathist regime was projecting towards the Shia of Iraq.[11][12] By 1976, he was wanted by the regime, because he was both, not enrolled in the army, which was obligatory at that time,[13] and had been reported to the authorities as a member of al-Modarresi's illegal movement.[14] In 1979, he was sentenced to death in absentia, whilst he was still in Karbala.

Combat History

Straight after his sentence, he fled to Kuwait, and remained there for just under a year. He then went to Iran, upon the start of the Iran-Iraq war, and carried on with the IAO, which was fully functional and operational in Iran. The IAO was also working with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),[15] and so the IRGC were impressed with Nasrallah's capabilities, and decided to train him and send him out for combat missions abroad. He carried out numerous missions in Kurdistan in 1981. He fought alongside the Peshmerga in the Kurdish mountains until 1987, and then became the manager of the IOA's office in Kurdistan and settled there for ten years.[3][16][17]

In the nineties, the IOA began to disintegrate, and the leadership was divided into a number of factions. Because of this, Nasrallah began to gradually withdraw himself.[16] He left Kurdistan for Iran, and settled in Qom. By November, 1996, two sons of Muhammad al-Shirazi (Murtadha and Mahdi) were imprisoned in Iran due to ongoing disputes between the government and the Shirazis promotion of the shura al-fuqaha (leadership of a council of jurists) ideology.[18] When they were released three years later, al-Shirazi turned to Nasrallah for help–who at that time had grown close to the Shirazis–to smuggle them out of Iran and go to Syria. After Nasrallah successfully transported both of al-Shirazi's sons, he returned to Iran. A little while after his arrival, he was imprisoned. A year later in prison, he was sentenced to death, but was then saved, following a decision by Mohammad Khatami to pardon a number of political prisoners, in an easing of the Islamic Republic's strict security policies.[19] After he was released, he remained in Qom, near al-Shirazi–who was now pretty much alone, with most of his children and students abroad or in prison–for approximately six months, until al-Shirazi insisted that Nasrallah leave Iran, as it was not safe anymore.

Nasrallah fled to Kurdistan and then left for Damascus. He set foot in the Syrian capital in February 1999.

Return to Iraq

In March 2003, just before Baghdad fell, Nasrallah returned to Iraq. Upon his return, he was assigned as the commissioner of the Ibn Fahd shrine and seminary in Karbala by the Shiite Endowment Office. He also assumed the position of director for the public relations office of Ayatollah Shirazi.[20][21]

Samarra expedition

Three days after the 2006 bombing, Nasrallah organised a protest in Karbala condemning the bombing of the al-Askari shrine. Three thousand people joined in the protest, and from there they decided to go to Samarra. However upon reaching Latifiya, they were stopped by troops from both the US and Iraqi army. As much as Nasrallah insisted they let them through, they were denied. In the end, he was connected to Nouri al-Maliki's personal assistant, who made it clear to Nasrallah that it was impossible for the troops to allow them to proceed for a number of reasons. Despite Nasrallah's countless attempts at convincing al-Maliki's assistant that all they wanted to do was go and protect the shrine from any further potential danger, they were denied. These sentiments were shared by the vast majority of Iraqis, who wanted their country to remain whole and free of ethnic conflict.[22][23]

After that, Samarra remained untouched, with very little development to return it to its old state. It was slowly fading away and considered a bygone by the majority of the Shias. This was because many of them were either scared of going, or simply avoiding to even think about it since they feared to go. However, Nasrallah was uncomfortable with this and felt he needed to revive the case. He organised another protest in Bayn al-Haramayn, this time demanding the reconstruction of the al-Askari shrine. The protest lasted for three days, however the response was relatively weak. So he consulted al-Shirazi - his spiritual leader – and was granted religious permission to go to Samarra, adding that this will be considered a "religious crusade" and their deaths will be considered martyrdom.[23]

Nasrallah took heed of this, and announced that on eve of the martyrdom anniversary of Hasan al-Askari, i.e. March 16, 2008, they will be heading to Balad, as the closest point to Samarra, and hold a mourning procession there. At first, he struggled to find any coaches with drivers that we're willing to take them. So he reached out to some friends of his in Shatra, who were able to provide him with two coaches. He then contacted a friend of his in the special operations forces, Col. Sadiq al-Fatlawi, to help and escort them throughout the way, however al-Fatlawi strongly advised against the trip, and described it as a 'death-wish', and that they would be 'finished' at the first checkpoint. Nasrallah explained that they were only going to Balad (which was 45 kilometres away from Samarra), and not Samarra, but this still did not convince al-Fatlawi, and he remained in disagreement. Despite this, the next morning, Nasrallah called al-Fatlawi, and informed him that they were coming regardless, and this caused al-Fatlawi to eventually agree on escorting them to Balad.[23]

Nasrallah reached Balad in the evening of March 16, and was welcomed greatly by its people and heads, who were overwhelmed, since they had not seen any visitors for more than two years, i.e. since the bombings of the shrine. Nasrallah and his convoy spent the night in Balad mourning the martyrdom anniversary of al-Askari in the Sayid Muhammad shrine. After the procession, Nasrallah decided to unveil his true intentions to his group, which was he was planning to make his way to Samarra. To his joy, everyone was more than willing to join him.[23]

The following morning, the heads of Balad approached Nasrallah, and wanted to show their gratitude by asking him for any request. Nasrallah responded with a call for support for his trip to Samarra, as they were more familiar with the way and situation. The people were shocked, and refused, saying that they would not want to thank them by sending them to their deaths. However, Nasrallah had no interest in backing down, so he remained persistent. He sent a first batch in front to test the way and see if the route was safe until the first checkpoint. When that batch returned, it reported that it was turned away by the first checkpoint, where they met the governor of Saladin, Hamad al-Qaysi, who explained that it was too dangerous.[23]

Nasrallah did not care for this and decided to set off, and before he left Balad, he made a call to one of the leaders of the city, and pleaded for their support, yet they declined. Ten minutes later, he made one last call, this time using a more shaming tone, and uttered "remember this very well, remember that the Imams called for your aid, and you refused them, remember how you betrayed and shamed your religion, and this will follow for your coming generations, and I will stand and call you out on the day of Judgement." It seemed that this speech of his had moved them, and so they decided to follow. They came with forty cars, civilian and military. They spent the way receiving random gunfire coming from undisclosed locations, until they safely reached the al-Askari shrine. It was overwhelming and an emotional scene for them all, as they saw the dome of one of their most adhered figures, demolished, along with all of the debris.[23]

Nasrallah and the convoy performed a mourning procession there, and then later spoke to the military men, who uncovered that the al-Maliki had planned to contract a Turkish company to lift all the debris in three years, and a reconstruct the shrine in fifteen years. Nasrallah was very unhappy with the plans and progress, so he contacted the higher religious authority in Najaf, i.e. Ayatollah Sistani's office, demanding a better plan, so al-Sistani sent Muhammad-Ali al-Shahristani[24] to liaise. Nasrallah made five demands to the government, that needed to be addressed if they wanted them to leave, they were:[23]

  1. Samarra is to be released from the political sphere and made a religious case only.
  2. The contract between the Iraqi government and Turkish company be terminated, and new one be formed strictly with an Iraqi company.
  3. UNESCO's involvement be limited to only observation, and no interference in the al-Askari shrine.
  4. The significant increase of military presence placed in order to protect the shrines.
  5. The way to Samarra be secured enough, so that pilgrims can comfortably make visitation at any time during the year.

Nasrallah wanted to do some work to deal with the debris, but he was not allowed, and the special operations forces commander said that letting them in itself was going to get them in a lot of trouble, and that they can not let them do anything else.[25][23]

Nasrallah also introduced the idea of dedicating the last Friday of Ramadan as the national day to support al-Askariyayn (Hasan al-Askari and Ali al-Hadi).[26][5][27]

Inspired by Mirza Shirazi and his revitalisation and re-centralisation of Samarra, Nasrallah has been working to return the city to its prior academic status and become a centre for teaching and training those seeking Islamic sciences and knowledge taught by the Ahl al-Bayt, especially since it took a halt after the death of Shirazi. He has been working on establishing religious and cultural centres. This includes Husayniyat al-Rasool al-Adam, which he personally funds and supervises.[28]

Activism

Nasrallah hosts an annual protest, in Arar, near the Iraqi-Saudi border, condemning the demolition of the al-Baqi' cemetery, and demanding the Saudi government to rebuild the graves of the prominent Islamic figures buried there.[29]

He also called for the legislation of a vatican-like vicinity to be made for the city of Karbala, with its own holy laws that will prevent the violation of the sanctity of the city.[30][31]

In Syria, after the civil war set off, he took the first mourning delegation to visit the Sayeda Zainab shrine, and helped many Afghans that lived in Damascus, relocate to Karbala.[32]

Philanthropy

Nasrallah sponsors a number of charitable initiatives in Iraq, some of them include:

  • The Fatima al-Zahra Charitable Foundation in Iraq, which distributes financial aid to newly weds that are struggling financially in Karbala.[33]
  • The Grand Hussaini Project, which annually provides multiple services (such as accommodation, food and drink, etc.) for free to the public, during the Arbaeen pilgrimage.[34][35]
  • Al-Rahiq al-Makhtoom campaign that saw the distribution of food bags to underwhelmed families in face of the COVID-19 pandemic.[36]

Personal life

Nasrallah is married and has seven children. His son Muhammad-Mehdi was killed in an explosion on June 6, 2016, in Karbala. The attack was claimed by ISIS, and was initially targeting Nasrallah.[37][38][39] An annual football tournament was set up in honour of Muhammad-Mehdi by the Youth and Sport Welfare Authority in the Imam Husayn Shrine.[40] Karbala's city council also renamed the road in which the explosion took place in to al-Shahid Muhammad Aref Nasrallah (transl. The Martyr Muhammad Aref Nasrallah) Road.[41]

Nasrallah is a close friend of Kuwaiti MP, Saleh Ashour.[42]

See also

References
  1. "al-Sayyid al-Marja' Yastaqbil Ra'is Mahkamat Isti'naf Wa Masool al-Ilaqat al-Ama Fi Karbala a-Muqadassa" [Sayyid al-Marja' welcomes President of Appeals Tribunal court of Karbala as well as the Director of Public Relations]. alshirazi.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  2. al-Khazraji, Dr Nadhir (2019-01-01). Safar al-Khulud: Rihlat al-Mowsoo'a al-Husayniya Min Mamlakat al-Dhabab Ila Jumhuriyat al-Qibab [The Journey Of Salvation: The HCR's Journey From The Kingdom Of Fog To The Republic Of Domes] (in Arabic). Vol. 2. Beirut, Lebanon: Beyt al-'Ilm Lil Nabiheen. p. 614.
  3. "Arif Nasrallah: Multaqa Erbil-Najaf Rai' Jidan Wa Na'mal An Yakun al-Multaqa al-Qadim Fi al-Najaf" [Arif Nasrallah: The Erbil-Najaf conference is amazing, and we hope the next conference is in Najaf]. Rûdaw Research Centre (in Arabic). 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  4. "PR Manager Aref Nasrullah of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Visits Military, Political and Social Figures". english.shirazi.ir. 2019-04-29. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  5. "More than thirteen thousand pilgrims flock to holy Samarra on last Friday of holy Ramadan + Photos". ShiaWaves. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  6. "Al-Fida Procession demands Wahhabi takfiris to stop abusing the holy shrines in Medina". shiawaves.net. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  7. "Mowkib al-Wala' wa al-Fida' wa al-Fateh Yuhyi Thikra Shahdat al-Imam al-Sadiq Fi Samarra wa Yata'radh lil-I'tida'" [al-Wala' wa al-Fida' wa al-Fateh revives the martyrdom of Imam Sadiq in Samarra and is attacked]. www.alshirazi.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  8. Tu'ma, Salman Hadi (1998). 'Asha'ir Karbala Wa Usarha [Tribes and Families of Karbala] (in Arabic). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Muhja al-Baydha'. p. 229.
  9. Sadr, Sayyid Hassan (1965). Nuzhat Ahl al-Haramayn Fi 'Imarat al-Mashhadayn [A Stroll into the Sights of the Shrines] (in Arabic). Lucknow, India. p. 21.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. Shams al-Din, Sayyid Ibrahim. al-Buyutat al-'Alawiya Fi Karbala [The Alid Households in Karbala] (in Arabic). Karbala, Iraq: Matba'at Karbala. p. 12.
  11. "Saddam Hussein's legacy of sectarian division in Iraq". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  12. "Iraq's Oppressed Majority". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  13. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Iraq: Military service in Iraq". Refworld. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  14. al-Lobad, Adil (2009). al-Inqilab, Bay' al-Qiyam 'Alal Thaat [Coups, Selling Morals For Ego] (in Arabic). Laila for Publishing & Distributing. p. 150.
  15. Matthiesen, Toby (January 2010). "Hizbullah al-Hijaz: A History of The Most Radical Saudi Shi'a Opposition Group". Middle East Journal: 182.
  16. Ciment, James (2015-03-27). Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II. Routledge. p. 978. ISBN 978-1-317-47186-8.
  17. "Maktab al-Marja' al-Shirazi Fi Karbala: al-Hukam al-Yawm Shia Fi al-Hawiya Faqat" [Ayatollah Shirazis Office in Karbala: The rulers of today are only Shia in their identity]. Life Development Agency (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  18. al-Shirazi, Murtadha (2000). Fi al-Sijn .. Kanat Maqalat [In Prison .. There Were Articles] (in Arabic). Kuwait: Khodam al-Mehdi Association.
  19. Group, Taylor & Francis (2004). Europa World Year. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-85743-254-1.
  20. "Mu'sasat Misbah al-Husayn Alayh al-Salam Ta'qid Mu'tamarha al-Ta'sisi Fi Karbala" [Misbah al-Husayn Foundation hosts its founding conference in Karbala]. misbahalhussein.org (in Arabic). 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  21. "Hafl Bithikra Istishhad Ayatollah al-Sayyid Hassan al-Shirazi FI Karbala" [Function commemorating the martyrdom of, Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan al-Shirazi, in Karbala]. www.alshuhadaa.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  22. Galbraith, Peter W. (2007-06-12). The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End. Simon and Schuster. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-7432-9424-9.
  23. "- YouTube" برنامج جوهرة سامراء - وثائقي - 2015 [Gem of Samarra Programme - Documentary - 2015]. Al-Zahra Satellite Channel (in Arabic) – via YouTube.
  24. "Tashyi' Maheeb Bihudhur Mumathil al-Marja'iya wa Na'ib Ra'is al-Wizara' Lishaykh al-Imara al-Islamiya al-Duktur Muhammad Ali al-Shahristani Wa Dafnahu Fi al-Sahn al-Husayni" [al-Shahristani passes away and will be buried in Karbala]. Non News Outlet (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  25. "Li Awal Mara Munth Tafjeer Marqaday al-Askariyayn - Masirat Aza' Min Karbala Ila Samarra" [First Time Since The Bombing Of Al-Askariyayn Mosque - A Procession From Karbala to Samarra]. Nahrain Net News Website (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  26. Seied, Muhammad (2016-07-16). "Barguzari Hamayesh Bid'at Amiz "Yawm al-Nusrat al-Askariyayn" Dar Taqabul Ba "Rooz Jahaniye Quds"". qademon.ir (in Persian). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  27. "Ayatollah Shirazi PR Office prepares for annual Samarra Trip". ShiaWaves. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  28. "Nasrallah Yaltaqi Adadan Min al-Wujaha Fi Samarra Wa Ya'tazim I'adat Binaa' Husayniyat al-Rasool al-Adham" [Nasrallah meets numerous notable figures of Samarra and vows to rebuild Husayniyat al-Rasool al-Adham]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  29. "Feedyo: Tathahurat Ala Hudood al-Sioudiya, Bimatha Yuhadid al-Mutathahirun?!" [Video: Protests on the Saudi border, what are the protesters demanding?!]. www.alalamtv.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  30. "Nasrallah Yad'u Ila Taf'eel Qanun Qudsiyat Karbala" [Nasrallah calls for the activation of the law of Holiness for Karbala]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  31. "Nasrallah: Yajib Inhaa' al-Tajeed Alathy Taal Qanun Qudsiyat Karbala" [Nasrallah: We need to stop the freeze that has elongated for the execution of the Law of Holiness for Karbala]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  32. al-Sawaf, Mohammed Hamid. "Min Dimashq ila Karbala A'ilat Afghaniya Tabhath 'An Malath Aamin" [From Damascus to Karbala, Afghan families look for a safe sanctuary]. niqash.org (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  33. "Nasrallah Yusharik Fi Hafl al-Tazweej al-Khayri Li Mu'asasat Fatima al-Zahra al-Thaqafiya al-Khayriya" [Nasralla participates in the charitable marriage festival set up by Fatima al-Zahra Cultural and Charitable Foundation]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  34. "Intilaq al-Mashroo al-Husayni al-Kabir" [Launch of Grand Husayni Project [for 2019]]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  35. "Istimrar al-Jawlat al-Tafaqudiya Li Mas'ool al-Ilaqat al-Ama Lil Mashroo' al-Husayni al-Kabir" [Patrols resume of the director of the public relations office for the Grand Husayni Project]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  36. "Intilaq Hamlat al-Rahiq al-Makhtum Limusa'adat al-Fuqara Fi Karbala" [Launch of al-Rahiq al-Makhtum campaign for the aid of the poor in Karbala]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
  37. "Istishhad Najl al-Sayyid Arif Nasrallah Wa Isabat Shaqeeqah Fi Infijar Karbala" [The martyrdom of the son of Sayyid Arif Nasrallah and the injury of his brother in an explosion in Karbala]. Annaba News Outlet (in Arabic).
  38. "Istishhad Muhammad Arif Nasrallah Najl Mudir al-Ilaqat al-Sayed Sadiq al-Shirazi Bi Karbala Athar Isabatahu Bi Tafjeer Irhabi" [The martyrdom of Muhammad Arif Nasrallah, the son of the director of al-Sayyid Sadiq al-Shirazi's public relations office in Karbala due to a terrorist attack]. Non News Outlet (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  39. al-Mazini, Fuad (2017-06-04). "al-Thikra al-Sanawiya Liraheel al-Shaheed al-Sa'em al-Sayyid Muhammad Aref Al Nasrallah" [The anniversary of the passing of the fasting martyr Sayyid Muhammad Aref Al Nasrallah]. kitabat.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  40. "Qanat Karbala al-Fadha'iya Tahsid Laqab Butulat al-Shahid Muhammad Arif Nasrallah" [Karbala TV football team wins the 'Martyr Muhammad Arif Nasrallah' Tournament]. Karbala Satellite Channel (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  41. "Karbala Tatluq Tasmiyat al-Shahid Muhammad Aref Nasrallah wal-Tiflayn Layan Wa Ali Ala Ahad Shawari'ha" [Karbala names its roads after the martyr Muhammad Aref Nasrallah and the two children Layan and Ali]. Iraq al-Khayr Network (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  42. "Mas'ool al-Ilaqat Yad'u Ila al-Tahali Bil Rooh al-Husayniya Wa al-Hifadh Ala Wihdat al-Saf al-Shia" [Director of Public Relations calls for unity upon Husayni spirit and uniting Shia ranks]. al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic).
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