Hawzah News Agency- Speaking on the occasion of the Week of Unity between Seminaries and Universities in Iran, Hojatoleslam Ramezani, Director of the Sistan and Baluchistan Seminary, said the presence of students from more than 100 nationalities in Iran’s seminaries highlights the country’s expanding scientific and educational capacity at both regional and global levels.
He said seminaries carry a vital scientific and civilizational mission, noting that the intellectual strength of students trained in the school of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is acknowledged even by those who do not share their beliefs. He added that this reality, however, has not always received sufficient recognition in society.
Ramezani criticized what he described as the long-standing scientific dependence of the Islamic world on imported and translated knowledge, particularly in the humanities and other academic fields. He said Muslims, and Iranians in particular, were once pioneers in the production of knowledge in disciplines ranging from medicine and engineering to mathematics and the basic sciences.
He pointed to the historical contributions of Muslim and Iranian scholars, saying their influence on global mathematics, medicine, physics, and chemistry is undeniable. Ramezani added that over time, the Muslim world shifted from being a producer of knowledge to a consumer of foreign sciences, often without adequately assessing their broader intellectual and social implications.
Emphasizing the Quran as a foundational source for knowledge, the seminary director said Islam places no limits on the pursuit of science. He said the Quran encourages exploration of nature and the universe, calling on humanity to discover and utilize the resources of the earth through learning and effort.
Referring to recent developments, Ramezani said the notion that Muslim societies are incapable of producing science has gradually weakened in recent years. He added that Iran is steadily reclaiming its position in advancing scientific frontiers, although further progress remains necessary. He described the country’s scientific growth over recent decades as significant.
The cleric noted that in the past, scholars were often required to travel abroad—even to study Islamic sciences—and that enrollment in Western universities was once seen as a mark of prestige. Today, he said, Iran hosts nationally and internationally recognized universities and research centers across Islamic, humanities, medical, technical, and basic sciences.
He added that thousands of students from countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond are now studying in Iran’s seminaries and academic institutions, calling this development a source of pride for the Islamic Republic.
Stressing the need to prioritize knowledge production, Ramezani said Islamic teachings encourage continuous intellectual growth and ambition, urging scholars not to settle for minimal achievements but to pursue excellence throughout their lives.
He also pointed to the work of several Quran-based scientific centers, saying they have established dozens of academic disciplines grounded in Quranic teachings and now host scholars from diverse national backgrounds. According to Ramezani, these initiatives demonstrate that it is possible to produce sciences rooted in religious values while serving the broader needs of humanity.
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