AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On Thursday morning, March 2, 2023, four products of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly on the web platform, including Comprehensive Rahnama Portal, Digital Library of the Assembly, AhlulBayt (a.s.) Research Network, and Seraj Cultural-Propagational Digital Special Issue, were unveiled in the conference hall of the Assembly in Qom.
At the beginning of this ceremony, while welcoming the guests, Hojat al-Islam Abdullah Tavana, Director General of the Department of Studies and Research of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “The mission of the Assembly is to convey the message of AhlulBayt (a.s.) to the people of the world, the thing which must be realized through new methods and tools. Therefore, considering the emphasis of the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, we have taken a step towards using advanced tools to disseminate Shiite teachings.”
Further, Dr. Mahdi Farmanian, Deputy for the Department of the Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “Considering the Supreme Leader’s statements regarding the transformation, and the emphasis of the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the Book Council of the Assembly underwent a transformation, was divided into 14 specialized and independent disciplines, and its approach was changed to optimize its use.”
Then, Dr. Sayed Mahdi Taheri, the scientific advisor of the Assembly in the Google Scholar project, explained the AhlulBayt (a.s.) Research Network in Google Scholar; Rahnama Portal was introduced by Hassan Sadraei Aref, Director General of the Virtual Space Department of the Assembly; Nikbakht provided explanations on “Seraj” Digital Comprehensive Special Issue on Culture and Propagation dedicated to Mahdism discussions, Hojat al-Islam Nabavi explained about the digital library and software of the Assembly; and finally Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Yusofi Gharavi explained about the activities of the Book Council in the past years.
As the special speaker of this meeting, Ayatollah Mahdi Hadavi Tehrani, a member of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly said, “Today, the Internet has entered the lives of all people, and if it is interrupted, society will face a serious crisis in various sections.”
“There are billions of users on the internet,” he continued, “In this space, what is important is to be seen, and being seen, depends on the solid content more than anything.”
“Producing the proper content is the first priority in the internet space. Although the Islam Quest website does not have extensive technical features, it is popular with the public due to the solidity and reliability of the content, and it is a reference for thousands of other websites,” Ayatollah Hadavi Tehrani stated.
“Creating content on the web is very difficult. If the content production is accompanied by solid scientific support, it can attract the audience on a large scale,” he continued.
Offering a proposal to the officials of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, this member of the Supreme Council expressed, “Institutions, Islamic centers, websites, etc., which are introduced by you in the different software of the Assembly, are not all at the same level, and the content and capabilities of some have many differences. Therefore, centers, websites, and Islamic centers should be introduced with a rating.”
“We should be able to use the capabilities of other centers for free. In this regard, the interactive method is very important, and the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly has connections with many missionaries and institutions. Therefore, the Assembly should use their active participation. By paving the way, it is possible to benefit from the ability of missionaries, institutions, and international organizations,” he added.
“Objectives can be achieved with solid content and cooperation. The AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly can produce solid and reliable content on the web with its facilities and capabilities already has, to promote the AhlulBayt (a.s.) school,” Ayatollah Hadavi emphasized.
At the end of this meeting, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “In the modern world, we have to work with new formats and tools in order for our works to be seen. The AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly must achieve scientific and spiritual authority. Of course, achieving this goal has its own requirements.”
“Transformation is the expectation of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution from the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and in order to realize this objective, we must benefit from experts in various intellectual and theoretical fields,” he added.
“Publishing books in physical printing form has its own effects. But today, considering the new facilities and tools, it is necessary to publish digital books, and through the available tools we must reach high goals,” said the Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
While expressing gratitude to the members of the Book Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly for their activities, the General Secretary stated, “All members of the Book Council are experts, and have diligently worked over the years. The Book Council and other activities have not been closed, but they should be updated and the work should be done in a specialized manner.”
In another part of his speech, while stating that the Islamic Revolution of Iran has offered equivalents for new concepts, Ayatollah Ramazani expressed, “The Islamic Revolution introduced the phrase “religious democracy” against “liberal democracy”. Also, the Islamic lifestyle mentioned in the Statement of the Second Phase of the Revolution is the software of Islamic civilization, and we must update the Islamic lifestyle against the West. We need content in this field, otherwise, we will not be the conqueror. Therefore, we must produce solid content.”
While emphasizing the necessity of using modern tools, he stated, “Today, if we cannot use new tools, we will lose.”
Explaining the activities of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly on the web, the professor of higher levels of the Islamic seminary said, “Two weeks ago, the Naba Application was unveiled, and 6 new languages were added to the WikiShia so that the total number of languages in which this virtual encyclopedia operates reaches to 22 languages. Also, in the current meeting, AhlulBayt (a.s.) Research Network on the Google Scholar platform, Rahnama Portal, Digital Library of the Assembly, and Seraj Cultural- Propagational Digital Special Issue, will be unveiled.”
At the end of his speech, he again expressed gratitude to the members of the Book Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly for presenting excellent works and invited experts and intellectuals to submit their suggestions for improvement of the Assembly activities.
In the continuation of the ceremony, the members of the Book Council Messrs. Mohammad Hadi Yusofi Gharavi, Sheikh Ali Eslami, Sayed Monzer Hakim, Moin Hasan Daqiq, Dr. Mohammad Nasser Saqaye Biriya, Mohammad Faker Meibodi and the family of the late Ayatollah Kardan, were honored with certificates of appreciation.
At the end of this ceremony, four products of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly on the web, including the Comprehensive Rahnama Portal, Digital Library of the Assembly, AhlulBayt (a.s.) Research Network on the Google Scholar platform, and Seraj Cultural- Propagational Digital Special Issue, were unveiled.
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