Hawzah News Agency- Speaking during an official visit to Khuzestan Province, Ayatollah Arafi stressed that the province’s strategic civilizational depth, historical identity, and revolutionary legacy place a unique responsibility on its academic and religious institutions. He said Khuzestan possesses “enormous human, cultural, historical, and scientific capital,” and urged national planners—particularly within the Seventh Development Plan—to take the province’s exceptional position seriously.
Khuzestan’s Historic Islamic and Shia Identity
Highlighting Khuzestan’s thousands-year history and its key role in embracing Islam and advancing Shia scholarship, Ayatollah Arafi noted that the province has produced towering figures such as Ali ibn Mahziyar Ahwazi, Vahid Behbahani, Sheikh Ansari, and generations of prominent scholarly families. This legacy, he said, demands renewed investment in educational and religious institutions.
Reflections on Hazrat Fatima Zahra (PBUH)
Marking the Fatimid Days, the seminary director emphasized two aspects of Hazrat Fatima Zahra’s (PBUH) historic role:
- A Leader Across Time:
He described the Fadakiyah sermon and her public defense of guardianship as actions aimed at safeguarding the core principles of leadership and Imamate throughout history. - A Model of Crisis Management:
Citing the turmoil following the Prophet’s (PBUH) passing, Ayatollah Arafi said Hazrat Fatima Zahra (PBUH) confronted a collapsing political and social order with decisive action—similar to the roles played by Hazrat Khadija at the advent of Islam and Hazrat Zaynab during the events of Ashura.
He stressed that Islam views women as influential, knowledgeable, and capable of shaping history—an issue the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has repeatedly emphasized.
A Call for Intellectual Leadership and Public Engagement
Addressing seminary students, Ayatollah Arafi said the Islamic Revolution is a pivotal moment in Iranian history and called on scholars to remain steadfast, proactive, and socially engaged. He said the seminary must lead efforts to articulate Islamic thought, respond to contemporary intellectual challenges, and uphold justice.
Expanding the Seminary’s International Presence
Ayatollah Arafi concluded by outlining programs aimed at upgrading Iran’s seminary system. These include strengthening foreign-language and international studies, developing new academic disciplines, enhancing outreach and explanatory work, and ensuring an active presence in regional and global arenas — areas in which he said the Khuzestan seminary is poised to play a strategic role.
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