Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Seyed Mehdi Alizadeh Mousavi, one of the selected figures at the 27th Seminary Book of the Year Conference, made the remarks in an interview, analyzing the trajectory and future direction of seminary-based academic production.
From Private Piety to Social Engagement
Alizadeh Mousavi pointed to what he described as a fundamental transformation in Shia intellectual thought following the victory of the Iranian Revolution.
“Prior to the Revolution, Islamic teachings were largely confined to the private sphere of individual life,” he said. “However, with the emergence of a social and political reading of Shia Islam after the establishment of the Islamic system, the necessity of an active and structured presence in society became undeniable.”
He noted that the formation of a Shia-led government introduced entirely new intellectual and practical challenges, compelling religious scholars to enter previously unexplored domains.
Addressing Theoretical Poverty and Specialist Shortages
According to the cleric, Iranian society today faces two principal challenges: “theoretical poverty” and a shortage of specialized human resources.
Fields such as economics, politics, and culture, he argued, require renewed interpretations rooted in Islamic teachings yet responsive to contemporary realities. “We need scholars who are simultaneously well-versed in religious sciences and fully cognizant of modern conditions. Only through such integration can truly impactful works be produced,” he stated.
Over the past 47 years, he said, the seminaries have generated numerous valuable works aimed at addressing societal needs. However, he emphasized that future progress depends on moving decisively toward research that directly engages with pressing social questions.
Problem-Oriented Evaluation Criteria
Alizadeh Mousavi stressed that the primary criterion in evaluating scholarly works at academic conferences should be their capacity to solve real-world problems.
“It is not sufficient to assess a work merely based on writing style, methodology, or citation structure—although these are important,” he said. “The key question is whether the work has succeeded in removing an obstacle from the path of society.”
He warned that without a problem-solving orientation, academic production risks stagnation and detachment from lived realities.
Beyond Revival of Heritage
Referring to the Book of the Year awards in the Islamic Republic, he observed that many of the selected works in recent editions have focused on reviving classical manuscripts and preserving intellectual heritage. While acknowledging the value of such efforts, he expressed concern that fewer works appear to be advancing new horizons in Islamic humanities and contemporary thought.
“This imbalance should prompt a redirection of the scientific trend toward addressing current challenges,” he said, calling for a strategic shift in knowledge production to ensure that Islamic scholarship remains dynamic, relevant, and forward-looking.
Analysts say the remarks reflect an ongoing debate within Iran’s seminary institutions over the balance between preserving classical heritage and developing innovative frameworks capable of responding to the complex demands of modern governance and society.
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