INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The following is the full text of leader's message issued on April 30, 2025, addressed to the conference commemorating the 100th anniversary
of the establishment of the Hawza Ilmiyya of Qom [Islamic Seminary of Qom] and its founder, Grand Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Abdulkarim Haeri
Yazdi (ra)In the Name of All?h, the Compassionate, the MercifulAll praise is due to All?h, Lord of the Worlds, and may the best of prayers
be upon our Master, Muhammad al-Mustafa, and his pure Progeny, particularly the vestige of All?h remaining in the worlds.The emergence of
events that darkened the environment of the West Asia region and threw the lives of its nations into turmoil and ruin.The source and cause
of this widespread and long-lasting suffering were the interventions of colonial governments and the victors of World War I
With the aim of seizing and dominating this sensitive geography, which is rich in underground resources, they utilized all tools at their
They used military force, political machinations, bribery, and the employment of domestic traitors, propaganda and cultural tools, and every
other possible means to achieve their goals.In Iraq, they established a government under British control, followed by a monarchical puppet
In the Levant, Britain on one hand and France on the other, expanded their colonial interests by creating a tribal system in one part and
installing a family puppet government under the British in another, while imposing repression and pressure on the people, especially Muslims
and religious scholars throughout the region.In Iran, they elevated a ruthless, greedy, and insipid Cossack to the position of prime
In Palestine, they began the gradual migration and armament of Zionist elements, quietly preparing the ground for the creation of a
In some cities, such as Najaf, they went so far as to arrest groups of scholars and even expelled prominent religious authorities like Mirza
Naini, Sayyid Abulhassan Isfahani and Sheikh Mahdi Khalesi in an insulting manner and they conducted house-to-house searches to arrest the
The people were terrified and confused and their horizons had become dark and hopeless
affairs.It was in the midst of such bitter events and such a dark night that the star of Qom rose
The divine power stirred a great, virtuous and experienced jurist to migrate to Qom, revive the deserted and closed Hawza and plant a fresh,
auspicious land.When Ayatollah Haeri arrived in Qom, the city was not without prominent scholars
Distinguished figures such as Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Arbab, Sheikh Abulqasim Kabir and several others resided there
God elevate his position in Paradise.His eight-year experience of establishing and managing a thriving Hawza Ilmiyya in Arak, along with his
close association with the great Shia leader Mirza Shirazi in Samarra many years before that, where he observed the strategies employed in
founding and administering the Hawza Ilmiyya there, provided him with guidance
His prudence, courage, motivation and hope propelled him forward along this challenging path.In its early years, the Hawza survived thanks
young or old in his attempts to erase the traces and foundations of religion
The evil oppressor was destroyed and the Hawza, which had been under his maximum pressure for years, endured and grew.And from it emerged a
The Hawza Ilmiyya - whose students once sought refuge in corners outside the city at dawn to protect their lives where they studied and
engaged in discussions before returning to their dark rooms within the schools at night - became in the four decades that followed a center
that sent out the fires of struggle against Reza Khan's evil dynasty throughout Iran
It rekindled hope in disheartened souls and drew isolated youth into the middle of the field.And it was this very Hawza that shortly after
and tablighi Shia activity across the world
Ultimately, it was this same Hawza that in less than six decades, built up its spiritual power and popular standing to the point where it
enabled the people to uproot the treacherous, corrupt and immoral monarchy.And after centuries, it established Islam as the political
governing system of a great and culturally rich country endowed with every kind of potential.It was a graduate of this blessed Hawza who
made Iran a model of Islamic aspirations in the Muslim world and indeed, a pioneer of religiosity across the globe
Through his prophetic message, blood triumphed over the sword
Through his prudence, the Islamic Republic was born
Through his courage and trust in God, the Iranian nation stood firm against threats and overcame countless challenges
And today, through his teachings and legacy, the country continues to overcome obstacles and move forward in many aspects of life.May the
eternal mercy and satisfaction of God be upon the founder of this blessed, grand Hawza and this pure and fruitful tree, the noble, wise and
speak about a few topics that are relevant to the present and future of the Hawza, in the hope that they may assist the current successful
meaning.The common literature on this subject is brief and insufficient
Contrary to what this literature suggests, the Hawza is not merely an institution for teaching and learning.Rather, it is a collection of
knowledge, training and socio-political functions
The various dimensions of this meaningful term can generally be outlined as follows:1
An academic center with specific areas of specialization2
A center for training pious and capable individuals to provide religious and ethical guidance to society3
The frontline in confronting the threats posed by enemies in various fields4
philosophy and the Islamic value system.5
topics, which can be summarized as follows:1
A scholarly center:The Qom Hawza is the inheritor of the immense academic wealth of Shia scholarship
This unparalleled reservoir is the product of the intellectual endeavors and research of thousands of religious scholars over a millennium,
in fields such as fiqh [jurisprudence], kal?m [theology], philosophy, tafsir [Quranic exegesis] and hadith studies.Prior to discoveries
being made in the field of natural sciences in recent centuries, Shia Hawza also served as arenas for exploring other sciences
by kal?m, philosophy and hadith.The gradual progress of fiqh scholarship over this long period - from the time of Sheikh Tusi to the era of
Muhaqqiq Helli and from there to Shahid [al-Awwal] to Muhaqqiq Ardabili and subsequently to Sheikh Ansari, and up to the present day - is
evident to those well-versed in the field
level of knowledge and new findings.However today, considering the rapid and profound intellectual and practical transformations in
contemporary times especially in the last century, greater expectations for the scholarly advancement of the Hawza must be
In light of the evolving rationality of generations, this responsiveness must today, more than ever have a robust intellectual and scholarly
to unprecedented questions which contemporary fiqh must be prepared to address.In addition to this and with the establishment of an Islamic
political system, the main question pertains to the large and comprehensive perspective of the Divine Legislator on the individual and
social dimensions of human life and its fundamental principles - views on individuals, their status, their goals in life, as well as an
exemplary vision of human society, politics, power, social relations, family, gender, justice and other dimensions of life
The fatwa [legal ruling] of a faqih [a jurist] on any given issue should reflect a portion of this large and comprehensive perspective.A key
Second, an adequate understanding of contemporary human achievements in the field of humanities and sciences related to human life is
level of academic capability, provided that certain points in the current methodology are carefully examined and effectively addressed with
competence.One of these points is the excessive length of the period of studies
The phase of textual studies for Hawza students passes in a questionable manner
The student is compelled to study voluminous and highly researched books of great scholars as textbooks
Such books are in fact, intended for when the student enters the stage of ijtihad [independent research] and assigning them to students
before this stage only serves to extend the duration of textual study.Textbooks should contain content and language appropriate for the
limited period prior to entering the research stage
The successful or unsuccessful efforts of eminent scholars such as Akhund Khorasani, Haj Sheikh Abdulkarim Haeri and Haj Sayyid Sadruddin
This is despite the fact that they lived in a time when students were not burdened with the overwhelming influx of mental distractions and
practical obligations that exist today.Another point is the issue of fiqhi priorities
Today, with the establishment of an Islamic system and the emergence of governance according to Islamic principles, certain important issues
have taken priority for the Hawza that were not previously considered
Some of these issues also have theological dimensions, which must be addressed in their respective contexts.In the current approach of the
Hawza in the field of fiqh, insufficient attention is paid to these priorities
At times we observe that certain scholarly skills - which are merely instrumental and preliminary for deriving Islamic rulings or some
jurisprudential or methodological topics that fall outside these priorities - captivate the jurist or researcher with their tempting allure,
so much so that they completely divert their mind from the fundamental and prioritized issues
This results in the squandering of irreplaceable opportunities and human and financial resources, without contributing to the clarification
of the Islamic way of life or the guidance of society amidst the onslaught of kufr.If the goal of scholarly work is to display erudition,
Its output at all levels serves the thought and culture of society and humans
The scope of this propagation encompasses a vast range, from the lofty teachings of tawhid to personal religious duties and from explaining
the Islamic system, its structure and duties to lifestyle, the environment, protection of nature, animal welfare, to many other domains and
aspects of human life.The Seminaries have long undertaken this heavy responsibility and many of their graduates at various academic levels
have engaged in diverse methods of religious propagation, dedicating their lives to this cause
After the [Islamic] Revolution, institutions were established to organize and if necessary, strengthen the content of these propagation
The valuable services of these individuals and others devoted to the mission of religious propagation must not be overlooked.What is
important is to be familiar with the intellectual and cultural climate of society and to establish harmony between the content of Tablighi
[propagational] efforts and the intellectual and cultural realities that exist among the people, especially the youth
The Hawza is faced with challenges in this area
The hundreds of articles, magazines, the speeches heard in gatherings, on television and the like, cannot adequately fulfill the duty of
bal?gh mubin as needed and deserved, especially in the face of the flood of misleading and fallacious narratives.There is a void in the
fills gaps and fulfills the objectives of religion definitely requires training and learning
An institution must take on this mission and teach students the art of persuasion, familiarity with methods of dialogue, awareness of how to
interact with public opinion, the media and social media and discipline in dealing with opposing elements.Through practice and training over
latest and most prevalent insinuations and intellectual and ethical falsehoods and provide the best, most eloquent, and strongest responses
in a discourse suitable for the times
On the other hand, it should compile the most essential religious knowledge tailored to the cultural and intellectual context of today,
content is the most important aspect of education in this area.In the work of tabligh, taking an affirmative and even offensive stance is
more critical than adopting a defensive position
What was mentioned about countering and resolving doubts and misleading insinuations should not cause the propagation apparatus to neglect
aggressively challenging the prevailing cultural deviations in the world and at times, within our own country
The imposed and inferred culture of the West is rapidly heading toward distortion and decline
The Hawza equipped with philosophers and theologians should not merely suffice with defending against doubt-mongering
Rather it actively creates intellectual challenges to this distortion and misguidance, compelling the proponents of misguidance to
respond.Establishing this educational apparatus is among the priorities of the Hawza
Considering the efforts of the enemies of religion, who are earnestly engaged in training their forces, particularly in certain critical
sectors, this task deserves to be taken very seriously and pursued with urgency.Refinement is another necessity that goes hand in hand with
Refinement does not mean fostering isolation or seclusion
A significant part of the scope of activity for a cultural mujahid involves inviting others toward spiritual refinement and Islamic ethics
However this call will be ineffective and devoid of blessings if the one issuing the invitation does not embody what they are inviting
The Hawza needs to take more action than ever before in emphasizing ethical teachings.You the students and young scholars, are certainly
younger generation, provided that you begin with yourselves
Being sincere in your actions and shutting the door to the temptations of wealth, fame and status are the keys to entering the delightful
realm of spirituality and truth
And thus, the difficult task of cultural jihad will become a pleasant duty and an impactful movement
In such a state, instead of being an obstacle to the courageous conduct of propagation, the hardships of being a Hawza student will turn
into a means for unwavering resolve and steadfast determination.Let me emphasize that the arena of religious tabligh should never be viewed
as an uncontested field, and one must not overlook, even for a moment, the need to confront the ambiguities and fallacies that are
training individuals for specific responsibilities within the governance and administration of the country, as well as for organizing the
internal affairs of the Hawza and fulfilling its duties
This however, requires a separate discussion.3
collective function of religious scholars
Undoubtedly, no reformist or revolutionary movement in Iran or Iraq can be found over the past 150 years that was not led by religious
scholars or in which they were not present at the frontline
tyranny, it was only the religious scholars who initially entered the arena, and in many cases with the blessing of popular support, they
were able to thwart the enemy
No one but them had the courage to speak out or truly understood the issues as they were
It was only after the outcry of the scholars that perhaps other people also raised their voices.Kasravi, who is counted among the staunch
opponents of religious scholars, admits that the onset of the Constitutional Movement emerged from the wise collaboration of Sayyid
Behbahani and Sayyid Tabatabai
Not only students and teachers, but also renowned scholars such as Sayyid Mostafa Kashani and some of the children of the religious
Some were martyred and many others were later exiled to remote parts of the British colonies.The activism of prominent religious authorities
implemented and also in the third decade when a significant part of Palestine was officially handed over to the Zionists and the fake
Their letters and statements on this matter are among the most valuable historical documents.The unparalleled role of the Qom Hawza and
subsequently other Seminaries in Iran in creating the Islamic Movement and establishing the Revolution, convincing public opinion and
active minds and eloquent speech, were among the first to respond to the enemy-defying call of the mujahid Imam [Khomeini]
They entered the field swiftly and seriously, endured hardships and worked hard to spread Revolutionary concepts and to convince public
opinion.It was with awareness of these facts that the late Imam (ra) in his profound and moving message to the seminaries, described the
273).In return, he regarded the path and work of the martyrs as a means of attaining the true essence of tafaqquh [deep religious
oppressed.For the future of the Hawza, he placed his greatest hope in those students and scholars whose concern for the movement, the
struggle and the Revolution had prompted them to take action
He expressed his dissatisfaction with those who, detached from these vital matters, were content merely with their books and studies.In this
the lion-hearted, politically-aware clerics, devising plans to combat the glory, greatness and popular influence of the clergy.In that
He is worried that the trend of tahajjur [reactionary tendencies] and pseudo-sanctification might tempt the Hawza to separate religion from
politics and social activities, thereby blocking the proper path to progress
its engagement in social and political activities and its fight against oppression and corruption as being contrary to the sanctity of
religion and its spiritual boundaries
It also advises the clergy to maintain complete neutrality and to avoid the risks of engaging in politics.Promoting this false delusion is
the greatest gift to the elements of colonialism and the arrogant powers, who have always suffered losses and in numerous instances, been
defeated by the presence and involvement of religious scholars in the fight against them
It is also the greatest gift to the elements of the corrupt, sinful and mercenary system that was uprooted and eradicated through the
prominently in the fields of intellectual, political and military jihad and is established through the sacrifice and jihad of the bearers of
unified the spheres of politics and worship in the mosque.In order to protect its spiritual credibility and to stay true to its foundational
philosophy, the Hawza Ilmiyyah must never become detached from the people, society and its fundamental issues
It must consider jihad in all its forms in times of need as its definitive duty.This is the same important statement that the magnanimous
The center for participation in the production and clarification of social systemsCountries and human societies are governed in all their
arbitration systems for resolving disputes and violations, legal or criminal matters, the economic and financial systems, issues related to
money, the administrative system, the business system, the family system, and so on
All of these are among the social affairs of a country that are managed in global societies in different ways and within the framework of
In an Islamic government, this principle and rule should naturally be derived from Islam and its authentic texts and the systems of social
to its broad fiqhi principles derived from the Quran and Sunnah, as well as through the application of secondary rulings.Regarding the
in Najaf was a blessed beginning
It paved the way for research for scholars in the Hawza and after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, its various dimensions
It is the Hawza that must fill this gap
This is among the definite duties of the Hawza Ilmiyya! Today, with the establishment and governance of the Islamic system, the jurist and
jurisprudence have a heavy responsibility
Today, one cannot as the late Imam described, view fiqh as the ignorant do, merely as being immersed in individual and devotional rulings
The fiqh that builds a nation is not limited to the scope of devotional rulings and individual duties.Of course, in order to design and
establish social systems, the Hawza needs to be sufficiently familiar with the latest global findings regarding these systems
This familiarity will enable the jurist to utilize the correct and incorrect aspects of these findings, gaining the necessary awareness to
draw upon the clear statements and indications of the Quran and Sunnah
This in turn, allows for the design of the framework of social systems to comprehensively and seamlessly govern society based on Islamic
thought.Alongside the Hawza, the country's universities also have capabilities and duties in this regard
This can be one of the areas of collaboration between the Hawza and the universities
The significant role of universities is to inquisitively and critically distinguish between the correct and incorrect aspects of prevailing
global scholarly opinions in the human sciences related to governance and popular systems
In cooperation with the Hawza, universities can present the content of religious thought in appropriate formats.5
Civilizational innovations within the framework of Islam's universal messageThis is the most prominent expectation from the Hawza Ilmiyya
It might be perceived as ambitious or wishful thinking
On that historic night following the attack on Feyziyyeh [Hawza] in 1963, when the late Imam was speaking to a small and frightened group of
students in his home after the Ish? prayer, perhaps his lofty statement, "They will go and you will remain" might have seemed ambitious or
wishful thinking to some of us
However the passage of time, has shown that faith, patience and trust in God can uproot mountains of obstacles and the schemes of enemies
civilization in which science, technology, human resources, natural resources and all human capabilities and advancements, along with
governance, politics, military power and everything at the disposal of humankind - are employed in the service of social justice, public
welfare, reducing class disparities, fostering spiritual growth, advancing scientific progress, deepening the understanding of nature and
It is based on honoring the human being for their humanity, rather than their gender, color, language, ethnicity or geography
It is based on justice, with all its dimensions and examples
It is based on human freedom in various fields
It is based on public struggle and effort in all fields where there is a need for a jihadi presence.Islamic civilization stands on the
opposite side of the current materialistic civilization
Materialistic civilization began from its inception with colonialism, the seizure of lands, the humiliation of weaker nations, the mass
killings of indigenous people, the use of science to suppress others, oppression, lies, the creation of vast class divides and coercion
Gradually, corruption, deviation from moral principles and sexual modesty also found their way into it and they grew.Today, we see clear and
complete examples of this flawed structure in Western countries and those that follow them: Peaks of wealth alongside valleys of poverty and
hunger, bullying by power-hungry people against anyone who can be bullied, the use of science for mass killing, the spread of sexual
corruption into families and even to children and infants, unparalleled oppression and brutality in cases such as Gaza and Palestine and
civilization is destined to perish and will be eliminated
This is the inevitable law of creation: "Indeed, falsehood is bound to vanish" (Quran 17:81)
"As for the scum, it leaves as waste" (Quran 13:17)
Our duty today is first and foremost to help nullify this falsehood and second, to prepare an alternative civilization in thought and action
to the best of our ability.It is a fallacy to say: "Others couldn't do it, so we can't do it either"
Wherever others have acted with faith, calculation and perseverance, they have succeeded and triumphed
A clear example of this before our eyes is the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic.In this battle, there are injuries, blows, pains
and losses that must be endured
The Great Prophet (sawas) secretly left Makka at night and from among the circle of idolaters and hid in a cave
However, after eight years he entered Makka with glory and authority and cleansed the Kaaba of idols and purified Makka of idolaters
During these eight years, he endured countless hardships and lost companions like Hamza, yet he emerged victorious.Our eight-year Sacred
Defense against the global coalition of oppressive and deceitful powers is another example
The great and effective Qom Hawza today, which faced such hardships in its beginnings, is a clear example before our eyes and many such
examples can be found.The Hawza bears a valuable responsibility in this regard: First and foremost, to outline the primary and secondary
lines of the new Islamic civilization and then to clarify, promote and embed it within the culture of society
This is one of the best examples of bal?gh mubin.In outlining the structure of Islamic civilization, both fiqh and the rational sciences
each have their own distinct roles
Our Islamic philosophy must illustrate a social extension for its core issues
Likewise, our fiqh by expanding its scope and updating in derivation, must identify the emerging issues of such a civilization and determine
their rulings.The magnanimous Imam's clear explanation of jurisprudence and its methodology in the Hawza Ilmiyya paves the way for solutions
In this statement, the method of deduction follows traditional jurisprudence or what he refers to as "Jawahiri ijtihad"
Nonetheless "time" and "place" are two determining factors in ijtihad
It is possible that a matter might have had a particular ruling in the past, but due to changes in political, social, and economic
relations, it may now require a new ruling
This change in ruling arises because although the issue may appear the same as before, it has in fact changed due to shifts in political,
social and other relations, thus becoming a new issue that necessitates a fresh ruling.Moreover, successive global events, scientific
advancements and other developments can sometimes lead a skilled faqih to a new understanding of a source from the Book (Quran) or Sunnah
(traditions), which may then serve as a legitimate religious justification for changing a ruling as often happens in the changing rulings of
In any case, fiqh must remain fiqh and new understandings should not result in the corruption of Sharia.Regarding the definition and
interpretation of the title "?awza Ilmiyya" and its profound content, I will suffice with what I have mentioned so far and briefly speak
about the Qom Hawza, which has now reached its centennial.Today, the Qom Hawza is a vibrant and thriving institution
The presence of thousands of teachers, authors, researchers, writers, speakers and thinkers in Islamic sciences, alongside the publication
and a vast potential for the future of the country and the Muslim community.The prevalence of lessons in tafsir and ethics, as well as the
expansion of centers and courses in rational sciences, are notable strengths that the Hawza did not have access to before the RevolutionThe
Qom Hawza has never before seen such a large number of students and learned scholars
Their active presence in all fields of the Revolution, even in military fields and the offering of valuable martyrs during the Sacred
Defense and in the periods before and after it, stand as great sources of pride for the Hawza and are counted among the countless
achievements of the late Imam
Paving the way for global tabligh efforts and training thousands of students from various nations, with graduates now present in many
countries across the world, is yet another significant and unprecedented accomplishment that must be appreciated.The attention of energetic
fuqaha to contemporary issues and the fiqh lessons related to them also promises a favorable future for scholarly progress and
The interest of young scholars to meticulously examine the epistemological points in authentic Islamic texts, particularly the Holy Quran,
impactful initiative, the everlasting rewards of which will reach the pure soul of the late Imam
With this spirit, the Qom Hawza is a vibrant and dynamic institution that keeps hopes alive.However, there is a significant gap between the
reasonable expectation for the Qom Hawza to be a pioneering and leading institution and its current state
Attention to the following points can help reduce this gap:- The Hawza must remain up-to-date
It must continuously move forward with the times or even ahead of its time.- There should be a focus on training capable individuals in all
Seminarians should strengthen their relationship with the people
Plans should be made to facilitate the presence of Hawza scholars among the public and to foster warm and sincere relations with them.-
Hawza administrators should wisely neutralize malicious insinuations that discourage young Hawza students about the future
Today Islam, Iran and Shias enjoy a level of dignity and respect in the world that they have never had in the past
The young Seminarian should study and grow with this kind of sentiment.- The youth in society should be viewed with optimism and
interactions with them should be based on this perspective
influences on their religious thoughts and sentiment
Many others are by no means at odds with religion or the Revolution
The very small minority who may have turned away from the appearances of religion should not lead the Hawza to unrealistic analyses.- The
Hawza curriculum should be designed in such a way that it teaches enlightened, responsive and up-to-date fiqh, which is also technically
grounded in the methodology of ijtihad
This should be taught by skilled instructors alongside a clear philosophy with social relevance and insight into the structure of societal
life and complemented by robust, persuasive theology
All three of these fields should gain clarity, brilliance and depth through a deep understanding of the Quran and lessons in tafsir.-
always been recommendations of Imam Khomeini (ra) and the great masters of ethics and knowledge to young Hawza students
And today, you dear young students of the Hawza, are likewise the recipients of these very same counsels.- Regarding the academic degrees of
Of course the Hawza levels, rather being numbered as 1, 2, 3 and 4, can be labeled using terms commonly recognized by national and
international academic institutions such as: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate (PhD) and similar titles.I will conclude my remarks here and
beseech Almighty God for the ever-increasing honor and glory of Islam, the growing strength and steadfastness of the Islamic Ummah, the
continuous progress and prosperity of the Iranian nation, the ever-growing dignity and effectiveness of the seminaries and for victory over
hasten his reappearance) - and may our sincere salutations be upon the spirits of the martyrs and the pure spirit of the Imam of the
This article first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times
