An interview with Hojjatoleslam Mohsen Abbasi

Iliya and Haifa

December 25, 2022 - 18:21

“Haifa and Iliya” is the title of a story collection on which two volumes have been published thus far.

Children and teenagers are the main target audience for these stories. In these stories, they learn how the enemy attacks Islamic society and what correct and incorrect actions Muslims can take.

The stories in this collection are set in two villages, Iliya and Haifa. In Iliya, the people are Muslim and Shiite, while in Haifa, the people are Jewish.

* What made you write these stories? 

I learned from Surah Al-Imran verse 118 that God asked us not to choose friends from non-Muslims because they want us to suffer hardship. My goal was to teach the children the importance of this. As a result, I decided to write a story about two cities, one of which is populated by Muslims and Shiites, and the other by Jews. Jews use Muslims' secrets against them.

* Do the cities have a specific reason for their names?

The name Iliya means Ali in Hebrew, and Imam Ali is a Shiite symbol. Haifa is one of Israel's most important cities.

* What made you decide to convert the book from an audio version to a textbook?

These days, while social media have expanded so much, I still believe that books are the best and important tools for understanding the truth. Second, I would like all children to read books more than spending time on social media.

* What other subjects were you looking for to teach children besides secret keeping and penetration?

I also wanted to teach the role of leadership in today's society, and that one of the main factors in the success of the union is its leadership. "Iliya and Haifa" tries to teach the children this tradition and law that is emphasized in Islamic teachings.

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