The revered source of emulation considered Ashura and religious values as two of the ‎most important assets of Shi’ism and stated that this culture has been targeted. ‎ 

In a meeting with the new head of the Islamic Propaganda Organization, Hujjat al-‎Islam Mohammad Qomi, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi said, “The world is now ‎tired of materialism and no culture other than pure Islam and the school of thought the ‎Ahlul-Bayt can satiate the people.”‎ 

The revered source of emulation explained that extremists and Takfiris have introduced the ‎face of Islam is upside-down and noted, “The Takfiri accounts are separate from Islam and ‎Muslims. In various conferences held in the presence of Iranian and foreign scholars, we ‎have declared that Islam is the religion of affection, the religion of peace and kindness and ‎that [Takfirism] is foreign to Islam and its teachings. Egypt’s al-Azhar University, just like ‎our scholars, considers Takfiris to be outside of Islam.”‎ 

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi described the introduction of the face of pure Islam as one of the ‎important missions of the Islamic Propaganda Organization and said, “You must use the ‎opportunities that have been provided to accept Islam in their best possible form.”‎ 

Referring to the existence of deprived places in the country, he called for special attention to ‎be given to these points and stated, “There are some points in the country that the ‎missionaries haven’t opened yet. You must have a comprehensive plan for missionary work ‎all over Iran, so take needs into consideration and you can respond to these needs by ‎planning.”‎ 

His Eminence noted that there are two ignorant and spiteful groups which are busy spreading ‎poison and said, “Some ignorant people are unaware of the activities of the clerics and the ‎Islamic Seminaries. Some are also busy with attacking values for specific purposes.” 

Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi considered Ashura and religious values as two of the most ‎important assets of Shi’ism and stated that this culture has been targeted and said, ‎‎“Recently outside the country, statements were made by the enemies and spiteful people ‎who said they must prohibit Ashura. This is nothing but illusion. Ashura is a culture that is ‎integrated into the soul and lives of the people and no power can prohibit it.”‎