Shiism to which I was born in Tehran more than seven decades ago is as I realized after the Iranian revolution – and the unprecedented adulation of Ayatollah Khomeini leading to his becoming both the religious and secular absolute dictator by law – that the Shiite sect has been from the outset – June of 632 A.D. and the death of Prophet Muhammad – a cult of personalities:

1. For rejecting the lawful succession of the first three Caliphs as historical fact as accepted by the Sunnis the world over and now constituting 85% of the Muslim world and

2. Considering Muhammad, his daughter Fatima and wife of the cousin and the first Shiite Imam Ali and their decedents in case of Twelver Shiites leading to Mahdi as infallible.

No one but no one who has ever walked and in all probability will ever walk on this or any other planet, ncluding Jesus, has been infallible who cried, “Take this cup away from me…” when tens of thousands including hristians themselves died a much more gruesome deaths during the reign of the Roman Empire alone.

Can anyone, for example, forget the innocent Joan of Arc carrying her cross willingly while being burned to death?

Shiite leaders, first and foremost the Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Khamenei and other renowned Shiite religious leaders can join the rest of the Muslim world and prevent the death and destruction that has been the result of the Shiite-Sunni divide for centuries.

Those in the Muslim world and especially the Shiite pilgrims – My father sold his thriving business and our magnificent home at the center of Tehran when I was five years old for the sole purpose of immigrating to
Iraq in order to be close to the Shrines of the Shiite Imams such as Ali and his son Hussein but fortunately we returned to Tehran a year later – should be taught that shrines in general ultimately enclose the “from dust to dust" aspect of existence.

What is important is what we have learned from the past that by implementing them we through our word and deeds can elevate humanity individually and collectively to a higher plateau of existence. What Ali said and did could be of significance for our live today and not his glittering and impressive golden dome shrine.

As William Shakespeare said it so appropriately, “All that glitters is not gold. Gilded tombs do worms enfold.”

Finally, I urge every adult Muslim to make a resume of "Jesus son of Mary" and Muhammad on the basis of the original text of the Qur'an alone and choose the best as the guide. A just God would not conclude revelations with the so called "seal of the Prophets". God as the Quran says is closer to us than our jugular vein. Revelation is a continuous process for the whole of humanity and God is not a vampire.