The formal inauguration ceremony of the new gilding project of the Grand Golden Iwan was held at the Holy Shrine of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) in the presence of the Custodian of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Supreme Religious Authorities, senior scholars of the Najaf Seminary, officials from the Shiite Endowment Diwan, custodians of holy shrines and sacred sites, local government officials, academic and tribal figures, as well as a large gathering of pilgrims. The event took place during the auspicious days commemorating the birth of the Commander of the Faithful.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Following this, Sayed Isa al-Khirsan, Custodian of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine, delivered a speech in which he stated:
“Today is a day of praise and gratitude, and a manifestation of one of God’s blessings, as this portico at the entrance of the sanctuary of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him)—the qiblah of believers’ hearts and a place where needs are fulfilled—is inaugurated. What has been accomplished by the servants of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine with such precision and beauty is not for adornment or display, but rather an expression of reverence for the divine symbols. As the Almighty says: And whoever venerates the symbols of God—indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.’”
He added:
“This golden iwan, though outwardly a silent structure, is in reality an eloquent tongue proclaiming that everything undertaken at the Imam Ali Holy Shrine (peace be upon him) is in service of the school of Amir al-Muminin and a sign of the awareness and devotion of his lovers. A pilgrim passing beneath this iwan should not confine himself to its outward appearance, nor remain heedless of its deeper meaning.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, he expressed sincere appreciation to all technical, administrative, and support teams of the gilding workshop, as well as to all relevant departments, who worked with dedication and sincerity to bring this distinguished project to fruition.
Subsequently, Sayed Ahmad al-Ashkouri, speaking on behalf of the Najaf al-Ashraf Seminary, delivered an address in which he said:
“The shrine of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) holds, within the Shiite conscience, a deeply meaningful and inspirational identity. From this profound perspective, the importance of renovating the Golden Iwan becomes evident—an initiative that, before being an engineering project, is an epistemic decision and a manifestation of architectural awareness that reflects the message and sanctity of this sacred place.”
He emphasized that service to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) is not limited to stone and gold alone, but is realized through sincere intention, deep insight, and sound foundations for great works. He concluded by expressing his appreciation for the efforts of the Custodianship of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine.
The ceremony then took on a literary tone with a poetic recitation by Mutasim Al-Sadoun, who presented verses befitting the occasion. Following this, Sayed Isa al-Khirsan honored a number of engineering and construction staff from the gilding workshop, commending their sincere efforts in executing this blessed project.
The ceremony concluded with the performance of a devotional anthem expressing love and devotion to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), presented by the chant ensemble of the Imam Ali Holy Shrine.
This achievement forms part of a broader framework of ongoing efforts by the Imam Ali Holy Shrine to commemorate major religious occasions, implement landmark architectural and construction projects, and develop the shrine’s infrastructure and the historic fabric of the holy city of Najaf al-Ashraf. These initiatives aim to enhance services provided to pilgrims while preserving the city’s historical and religious identity, presenting a vivid image of the harmony between the spirit of the occasion, the grandeur of the sacred site, and the continuity of devoted service.
