Hawzah News Agency- At the outset of his message, the senior Iranian cleric expressed appreciation for all those involved in organizing the festival and described the event as an important opportunity to revive divine knowledge and strengthen the bond between art and spirituality. He said such cultural platforms demonstrate that art can play a central role in guiding human beings toward virtue, truth, and insight when it is aligned with sound intellectual and moral principles.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli emphasized that art must have a firm rational and intellectual foundation in order to operate at a truly human level. Without rationality, he noted, art may be visually attractive or emotionally pleasing, but it remains confined to the level of entertainment and outward display, lacking the capacity to transform individuals or society. True art, he said, invites reflection and deep understanding rather than fleeting enjoyment.
He went on to explain that rational foundations alone are not sufficient. Art, he said, must be “engineered” in what he described as the workshop of prudence and discretion. Through careful planning, discipline, and thoughtful execution, artistic works can move beyond abstract ideas and assume a practical and influential role in society. Art that is rational but not prudently developed, he warned, risks remaining theoretical, unable to generate lived and experiential impact.
The third essential component of effective art, according to Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, is the presence of tangible and observable outcomes. He stated that art which is intellectually sound and carefully planned, yet fails to leave a meaningful mark on society, cannot be regarded as complete. Genuine art, he explained, emerges only when rational roots, prudent craftsmanship, and concrete social impact are all present simultaneously.
He further noted that art reaches its highest value when it is accompanied by spirituality and divine guardianship. Such art, he said, manifests itself attractively and effectively in speech, behavior, writing, and cultural production, enabling audiences not only to understand rational ideas but also to feel and experience their influence. This fusion of intellect and spirituality, he added, turns art into a source of divine blessing and a means of elevating human values.
Discussing the process of learning and cultivating art, the senior cleric observed that individuals acquire artistic skill through various paths, including practice, effort, and scientific knowledge. However, he stressed that art becomes truly influential only when it is cultivated along the correct path and in accordance with divine and human principles.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli underlined that God Almighty is the first guardian and guide of humanity and the world, and that any form of art developed along the divine path can serve as a source of goodness and effectiveness. He explained that the Creator has set out three fundamental principles which, when properly applied within art and human agency, lead to meaningful and transformative artistic expression.
The first principle, he said, is correct knowledge of the world, which he referred to as “worldliness” in the sense of deep understanding rather than material attachment. This includes awareness of the truth of existence, recognition of the Creator, and understanding the course and destiny of human life. Without such knowledge, he warned, human understanding remains incomplete and disconnected from both past and future.
The second principle is the ability to manage the world responsibly. This, he explained, involves the proper use of resources and capacities in the service of goodness and social well-being. He associated this dimension with fields such as politics, sociology, and social management, stressing that art connected to this principle can help societies organize their affairs more justly and effectively.
The third principle, which he described as world-design or world-building, relates directly to art’s creative role. It encompasses the ability to create beauty, order, and harmony in the world in a way that benefits both individuals and society. Art, he said, plays a decisive role in making life more meaningful, balanced, and aesthetically enriched.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli stressed that complete and effective art is realized only when all three principles—knowledge of the world, responsible management of it, and creative world-design—are present together. The absence of any one of these elements, he cautioned, results in the loss of a vital dimension of art, whether intellectual depth, practical influence, or creative power.
He also highlighted the educational and communicative power of art, noting that complex truths and concepts can be conveyed more effectively through artistic methods than through abstract explanation alone. Drawing analogies from education and history, he said art has long been used by scholars, thinkers, and martyrs to transmit knowledge, morality, and awareness to society.
According to the senior cleric, when art occupies such a cognitive and divine position, it not only becomes beautiful and pleasant, but also deeply influential, guiding society toward truth, virtue, and excellence. He described art as a force capable of shaping behavior, speech, emotions, and collective culture, thereby renewing the spiritual life of society.
In his concluding remarks, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli expressed hope that artists, intellectuals, and cultural figures would continue to pursue art grounded in faith, wisdom, and social responsibility. He prayed for divine protection and success for all those serving the cause of art, knowledge, and humanity, and called for the continued strengthening of cultural efforts that promote moral values and spiritual awareness in society.
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