RNA – Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Nouri-Hamadani spoke today at a ceremony marking the beginning of the new academic at al-Mustafa International University’s Imam Khomeini Specialized University in Qom.
Speaking to staff and students at this university for non-Iranian seminarians, the source of emulation stated that the present-day Shi’a seminaries are an extension of the schools of the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq and in the spirit of their schools, Islamic sciences are taught and researched in our modern era.
His Eminence suggested three basic points in the field of religious education. Noting the importance of studying law and jurisprudence, he said that in the Holy Quran, God encourages people toward gaining a “profound understanding” in religion because if nobody becomes a jurisprudent in the Islamic community, they cannot have a significant impact on the world.
Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani said that a jurisprudent is someone who has expertise in ten areas: knowledge in the fields of theology and philosophy, religion, morality, economics, civics, culture, politics, government, justice and jihad.
The revered source of emulation explained the importance of the issue of cultural education, which is recognized as a priority in the Islamic world, and said: “In regard to the important issue of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurisprudent), we still have not a reached strong and consistent opinion and there is room for further investigation in regard to this very important issue by jurisprudents.”
He said that the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini was able to have a phenomenal impact on the world because he was a jurist, a philosopher and a politician and if jurisprudence was not established in his being, he would not be able to revive Islam.
In regard to the issue of religious education, Ayatollah Nouri-Hamadani stressed that another important issue is the seminarians’ recognition of the current era. Never before in history, has there been such of blasphemy, hypocrisy and injustice as there in the world today. “This issue is completely relevant to the students’ mission,” he added.
In another part of his lecture, His Eminence stated that Zionism is main enemy of humanity and Islam, saying: “Today, Zionists are trying to destroy religion and morality in the world in order to extend their evil domination throughout the world.”
The revered scholar stated that distortion and misinterpretation of religion are other problems facing Islam, such that today, some consider Islam to be a religion limited to 1,400 years ago because of its outward appearance and target the religion with slurs and involve themselves in creating divisiveness among Muslims.
Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi emphasized that we must constantly monitor the enemies, adding that one of the most important issues today is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and warned that we must be vigilant in this area, lest the enemies use it against us.
The source of emulation also expressed regret over the tragic crane incident that killed a number of Hajj pilgrims in Makkah. He blamed the Saudi negligence as the cause of the crane collapse and condemned their disregard for the pilgrims’ safety. He also said this incident showed that the House of Saud is weak and cannot appropriately manage the Two Holy Mosques.
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