Hawzah News Agency (Qom, Iran) – In an exclusive interview with Hawzah News' correspondent in Qom on Tuesday, January 30, senior Shia cleric Ayatollah Mohsen Faqihi made some remarks on Islamic Seminary's Annual Book Award saying, "One of the major ways to promote wisdom and knowledge in every society is to propagate book reading."

He added, "We must pay special attention to writers and researchers in order to encourage them to write new books and articles."

Member of Qom’s Society of Seminary Teachers further asserted that the Annual Book Award is progressing every year in terms of quantity and quality of received papers and books; “every year, several notable figures publish topnotch works in Islamic seminaries as well as for the whole society.”

"The fact that Shia sources of emulation and prominent scholars attend Annual Book Award indicates the significance of book reading in the country. It is also a way to encourage young writers and researchers to write more."

 In the end, the senior cleric highlighted the importance of promoting research studies in Islamic seminaries by teaching young seminary students the principles and methods of conducting scientific research; "The advanced jurisprudential courses and other seminary lessons must be research-based."

It must be noted that 19th Annual Book Award of Islamic seminaries was held on Friday, January 25 at Imam Kadhim Seminary in Qom.