Hawzah News Agency- On Wednesday evening, Sheikh Faiq Nabiyev, Head of the General Administration of Muslims of Georgia, along with several leading Sunni Muftis, visited the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (PBUH). The delegation included Adam Shantadze, Sunni Mufti of Western Georgia, and Etafrat Aminov, Sunni Mufti of Eastern Georgia.
The visit took place as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural, religious, and educational ties between Iranian religious institutions and Muslim communities in the Caucasus region.
High-Level Georgian Delegation Welcomed in Qom
The Georgian delegation toured various courtyards and facilities of the Holy Shrine, offering homage to Hazrat Masoumeh (PBUH) and learning about the shrine’s vast cultural, educational, and service-related programs. The group was briefed on the shrine’s international initiatives, including academic exchanges, interfaith dialogue programs, and services provided to foreign pilgrims.
Their visit once again demonstrated Qom’s standing as a key center for Islamic unity, scholarly exchange, and cross-sectarian cooperation—hosting guests from Sunni, Shia, and various international Muslim communities.
Qom’s Expanding Global Reach: From Non-Muslim Tourists to International Pilgrims
According to shrine officials, the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (PBUH) continues to witness a sharp rise in international visitors. In the first half of this year alone:
- 1,100 non-Muslim tourists from 56 countries, including many from the United States and Europe, visited the shrine and participated in its cultural tourism initiatives.
- 6,500 Muslim pilgrims from 30 countries, including Iraq, Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, and the United States, visited the shrine to perform pilgrimage rituals and attend educational and cultural programs.
These statistics reflect a growing global interest in Qom as both a religious destination and a center of Islamic learning.
Qom: A Pillar of Religious, Scientific, and Cultural Influence in the Islamic World
Officials say the increased presence of foreign guests highlights Qom’s consolidated status as one of the Islamic world’s most influential religious and intellectual centers. Beyond pilgrimage, many international visitors take part in specialized programs, including:
- Interfaith and intrafaith dialogue panels
- Educational workshops and religious courses
- Cultural exchange forums
- Tours of historical and scholarly institutions within Qom
These activities reflect the depth of Qom’s cultural outreach and its expanding spiritual impact on global audiences.
Symbol of Unity and Cooperation
The visit of Georgia’s top Muslim leaders has been hailed as a significant step in developing stronger ties between Iranian religious institutions and Muslim communities across Eurasia. It also demonstrates the universal appeal of the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) and the central role of Qom in fostering understanding, unity, and cooperation among diverse Islamic traditions.
Your Comment