AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The second international gathering of “AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Narrators” was held on the morning of Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Qom.
This event, dedicated to non-Iranian seminarians, was attended by over a hundred media activists and social media influencers from various countries worldwide. During the session, some of these international activists presented reports on their media activities.
During the gathering, highlighting the significance of media, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, stated, “Today, media is one of the pillars of global conflicts and has a greater impact than anything else. In the future, media can become even more influential in various fields and have positive and negative directional effects on different domains.”
He continued, “The international gathering of AhlulBayt (a.s.) media narrators, which is one of the valuable initiatives of ABNA news agency, can foster synergy among media organizations and create an interactive environment, ultimately leading to media transformation. Today, media literacy and media ethics are crucial topics that must be addressed.”
Emphasizing the importance of media in introducing pure Islam, Ayatollah Ramazani remarked, “Media can be an exceptional and unparalleled tool for spreading the pure teachings of AhlulBayt (a.s.). We are witnessing extraordinary opportunities, but we also face extraordinary challenges. In terms of content, media can promote the new Islamic civilization and rationality. Once, some claimed that a religious revolution could not take place, yet we witnessed the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Imam Khomeini (r.a.) believed that a revolution was necessary. Some argued that the discourse of the Islamic Revolution could not dominate the world. But today, this discourse, rooted in pure Islam and the teachings of AhlulBayt (a.s.), with its three pillars, i.e. rationality, spirituality, and justice, has become influential on a global scale.”
He further stated, “Given the influence these pure teachings have gained worldwide, fear and anxiety have arisen among enemies, making them distort this content. Today, we are facing distortions of pure Islam and the introduction of an eclectic version of Islam. The enemies strive to diminish and obscure Shariah, whereas Imam Khomeini (r.a.) firmly believed that jurisprudence is the practical philosophy of governance. The advocates of liberal Islam seek to downplay Shariah, and serious efforts must be made to counter this distortion. (Unfortunately) some intellectuals have leaned toward liberal Islam.”
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly added, “There are two approaches toward the teachings of the prophets. In one approach, the objectives of the prophets’ missions are completely erased, while in the second approach, prevalent in Western systems, the aim is to weaken Islam by promoting a liberal version of it. Islam teaches that mercy should be spread in the world, yet today, some use the term ‘Merciful Islam’ to distort the religion. This distortion and misappropriation must be confronted. Today, we are witnessing the misappropriation of AhlulBayt (a.s.), whereas they can serve as role models for all of humanity. We must familiarize ourselves with this content and establish a monotheistic framework to introduce pure Islam. Educational workshops should be held to provide clarity, and doubts should be addressed.”
He emphasized, “In addition to media literacy and establishing a strong news framework in terms of content, we must also engage in media jihad in today’s circumstances and introduce pure Islam. Without a doubt, if pure Islam is introduced in an international language, we will be victorious in various arenas. The Quran’s language is understood through two means: the language of reason and the language of Fitrah (human-divine nature). By mastering these languages, we can achieve success in different fields. If we aim to attain media authority, we must familiarize ourselves with this language and gain a comprehensive understanding. If this understanding is achieved, we will reach our goal. We must introduce Merciful Islam as a means of resistance against tyrants. The AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly is striving to provide the necessary groundwork for the media activities of AhlulBayt (a.s.) followers.”
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