AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Members of the Research Center for the History and Conduct of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) met with Ayatollah Reza Ramazani at the headquarters of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in Qom. During the meeting, a report was presented on the progress of preparations for the international conference titled “The Personality and Era of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) During the Minor Occultation”, as well as on scholarly activities related to the conduct of the later Imams.
At the outset, officials of the research center outlined the background of previous conferences dedicated to the conduct of the Abna’ al-Ridha (a.s.). Hojat al-Islam Motahhari noted that ten volumes compiling papers from conferences on Imam Jawad (a.s.), Imam Hadi (a.s.), and Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) have been published, emphasizing ongoing efforts to remove the veil of historical neglect from these revered figures.
Dr. Kazemi-Nasab, the scientific secretary of the conference, explained that the research adopts a strictly historical approach to examining the seventy-year period of the Minor Occultation. He said the objective is to clarify how Imam Mahdi (a.s.) restored cohesion within the Twelver Shiite community and to respond to calls by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution regarding insufficient scholarly attention to the Imams after Imam Reza (a.s.).
Addressing the meeting, Ayatollah Ramazani said such research offers a strong response to those who deny the concept of the Awaited Savior and even to doubts raised by some Shiite thinkers. He stressed that demonstrating the reality of the “present and living Savior,” as distinct from the abstract notion of a savior accepted across religions, is a central pillar of these studies.
Referring to his preaching visits to Latin America and Brazil, the Secretary-General spoke of the positive reception among followers of other religions toward the concept of a savior. He recalled a conversation with a Christian bishop who emphasized the advent of a savior to establish a “just peace.”
Ayatollah Ramazani described the study of the Imams’ conduct as more than a theoretical exercise, calling it the foundation of an Islamic lifestyle. He also underscored the need for precise historical examination of certain doubts surrounding the battles of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), attributing such accusations to attempts to portray Islam as inherently violent.
Criticizing the infiltration of liberalist principles into the daily lives of Muslims, he stressed the necessity of aligning the conduct of the Imams with contemporary human needs.
Concluding the meeting, Ayatollah Ramazani announced the assembly’s readiness to support the conference on the personality and era of Imam Mahdi (a.s.), stating that introducing the dimensions of the Infallibles’ (a.s.) lives is a core mission of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly. He tasked the assembly’s Scientific and Cultural Affairs Department with following up on cooperation details and making effective use of the researchers’ findings.
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