AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On the morning of Wednesday, December 11, 2024, a group of managers and members of the WikiShia Encyclopedia Planning Council visited the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute and met with Ayatollah Mahmoud Rajabi, the head of the institute and a member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom.
In this meeting, reiterating the importance of the WikiShia Encyclopedia, Ayatollah Mahmoud Rajabi stated, “The establishment of this encyclopedia was highly significant and necessary. The absence of such encyclopedias was a void for Shia in the world. There was an expectation to have an encyclopedia available in various major world languages. Moreover, engaging in the virtual space is critical, and speed and lack of restrictions in this space are important. Whatever resources are spent on a project like WikiShia are worth it.”
“We must address the many needs worldwide regarding Islam and Shia. There are many common contents among Muslims, and strategies must be devised to increase our global audience. For example, the late Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi once approved a proposal at the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute to draft a book introducing Islam in 12 dimensions, enabling us to present pure Islam comprehensively,” he continued.
The head of the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute added, “In projects like WikiShia, audience analysis is essential, considering the educational and cultural levels of our audience and their religious and national affiliations. The late Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi emphasized introducing Islam to the masses. Such efforts must be made, considering various audience levels, including students, teachers, and specialists. We need to identify the diverse concerns and interests of our audience and adapt religious concepts to suit their different levels. Each group has its distinct concerns and questions.”
Highlighting the importance of the Quran in explaining Islam, Ayatollah Rajabi remarked, “The late Allama Tabatabai presented Shia Islam in the form of Quranic Tafsir through his work, Tafsir al-Mizan. If we can use the Quran, which is universally acknowledged among Muslims, to convey religious concepts, we will attract a larger audience.”
He further explained, “The WikiShia Encyclopedia should consider issues specific to different countries and develop articles addressing these matters to meet the needs of those regions. One of our primary sources is the Holy Quran, and with commentaries like Tafsir al-Mizan, we are well-equipped. We must know that we have a great treasure.”
The head of the Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute described lifestyle studies as an interdisciplinary subject, stating, “We must identify our audience and analyze their questions. Such analysis can guide us significantly. Once, during a visit with the Supreme Leader, with members of the Center for Responding to Questions at the Qom Seminary, he emphasized the importance of analyzing the questions posed to the center and understanding its audience. This analysis enables us to grasp the context of our audience and proceed accordingly.”
Stressing the need to focus on foundational thought, Ayatollah Rajabi said, “We need to work more on the basic intellectual framework of our audience. Addressing these foundations can pave the way for many other efforts. Another critical issue is clarifying concepts. The enemy often exploits ambiguities in terminology, making clarity and conceptual analysis vital. The ‘Jihad of Enlightenment’ mentioned by the Supreme Leader is crucial for religious concepts. One of Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi’s notable traits was his ability to present ideas in a way that left no room for ambiguity or doubt. We need to use such models.”
“The exchange of ideas is beneficial, and collective work where individuals critique one another is constructive. It enhances the quality of the work, reduces errors, and ensures the final output is reliable and robust,” he said in the end.
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