AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, during the conference “Unity of Seminary and University” at the Basic Sciences University conference hall in Zahedan, Ayatollah Reza Ramazani said, “The seminary and university professors should hold regular seasonal or monthly meetings to interact. The concept of unity between the seminary and university should not be limited to one day a year but must have notable outcomes.”
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly explained, “The history of seminaries and universities dates back to the era of church dominance during the Middle Ages. During that time, an extreme approach was taken regarding this matter.”
“In the Church, both religious and scientific matters were determined. If any scientific opinion contradicted the Church’s theories, it faced repercussions, and the offender was prosecuted! This led to the Renaissance era in history. The flaw of the church’s dominance in the Middle Ages was the lack of proper management of religion and science within the political system. During the Renaissance, there was a confrontation (between reason and religion),” he stated.
Ayatollah Ramazani noted, “The Islamic religious system emphasizes that reason guides us toward religion, spirituality, revelation, and divine prophets. If we focus on rational principles, we will see guidance for humanity within them.”
The member of the Assembly of Leadership Experts further stated, “The notion that in the West we see Islam without Muslims, and in the East, we see Muslims without Islam, is incorrect and far from reality. For instance, the definition of family in the West differs from that in Islam. From the Islamic perspective, the family is a divine sign, a source of tranquility, and a manifestation of divine beauty and majesty. However, in the West, in countries claiming to be the cradle of civilization, the concept of family has changed to the extent that even homosexuality has been legalized!”
Ayatollah Ramazani stated, “In religious systems, religion integrates with rationality within governance. In an Islamic government that seeks civilization, civility, and discourse, rationality, spirituality, and justice form the three pillars of the same discourse."
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly also spoke about the existence of 4,000 false spiritualities in the West. “Spirituality should make individuals responsible. However, in the West, as they could not suppress the human dimension, they introduced spirituality with a different narrative,” he said.
“A political and discursive system aiming to bring justice to society with a new narrative must pay the costs,” he emphasized, “To establish such a system, we need a strategic perspective on the seminary and university.”
Ayatollah Ramazani stressed, “The seminary and university must have strategic, not tactical, unity. The sessions for unity between these institutions must not be superficial or symbolic.”
Speaking about Imam Khomeini’s initiative regarding the unity of the seminary and university, the member of the Assembly of Leadership Experts stated, “The late Imam Khomeini (r.a.) was the pioneer of the intellectual system of unity between the seminary and university. In his intellectual vision, fundamental solutions were proposed to address the challenges of a political system aiming to establish a new Islamic civilization.”
Regarding the authenticity of science in universities, he said, “Unfortunately, many universities today imitate science. However, society must experience scientific transformation, and universities must produce knowledge.”
Comparing Iran’s scientific ranking before and after the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ramazani stated, “The country’s scientific ranking was 57 at the beginning of the Revolution, but today, our ranking is 16 or 17. In some fields, we are ranked tenth, and in others, fifth in the world.”
The Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly referred to Ayatollah Khamenei’s dedication to scientific advancement, stating, “The Supreme Leader is the pioneer of scientific progress in the Islamic government of Iran. We have the potential to rank among the top five countries in various fields.”
“The development of an Islamic government rooted in religious values requires serious interaction between the seminary and university elites,” he added.
Ayatollah Ramazani remarked, “Unfortunately, some separate the ‘creature’ (phenomenon) from the ‘creator’ in their pursuit of knowledge. We must establish a relational perspective between the creature and its creator. Only then can God be present in universities and all human sciences. This perspective can guide society toward monotheism.”
The Assembly of Experts member stated, “In a monotheistic society, a seminary teacher alone cannot fulfill the tasks. University professors must also play their part.”
“With a strategic approach to the unity of the seminary and university, our responsibilities across various domains will expand,” he emphasized.
“The governance of a country relies on sciences such as management, economics, psychology, and others. We must incorporate these sciences, developed in the West, into a framework of value-based (religious) systems,” Ayatollah Ramazani continued.
Speaking on the requirements of a new civilization, the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Introducing a style is the foundation of a new civilization. In the 'Second Phase of the Revolution Statement,' the Supreme Leader provides recommendations regarding scientific progress, ethics, spirituality, justice, combating corruption, and the Islamic lifestyle.”
“The Islamic lifestyle is the software of Islamic civilization. If the Islamic Republic of Iran has a voice in the world today, it is due to progress in the scientific and military fields. However, we must also bring transformation to other areas,” he added.
In concluding his remarks, Ayatollah Ramazani emphasized, “We must articulate the Islamic lifestyle in the language of contemporary international society for all generations, especially the youth.”
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