Hawzah News Agency- The virtual counseling branch of the Samah Islamic Counseling Center was launched in a ceremony attended by senior seminary officials and Hojatoleslam Arbab Soleimani, head of the exhibition and deputy for Quran and Ahl al-Bayt affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
The newly opened platform provides specialized counseling services in areas including marriage, family affairs, legal guidance, talent identification, spiritual therapy, psychology, and child and adolescent counseling. Services are delivered remotely, enabling citizens in most cities nationwide to access professional consultation grounded in Islamic teachings.
Officials described the initiative as a strategic move to remove geographical barriers and facilitate broader public access to ethical, specialized, and religiously-informed counseling services.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hojatoleslam Tayeb Hosseini, head of the seminary section of the exhibition, underscored the centrality of consultation and collective wisdom in Islamic thought. He said the Holy Quran promotes decision-making rooted in consultation and rational dialogue, describing it as a guiding principle for both personal and social life.
He also cited a well-known saying attributed to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH), emphasizing that those who consult others benefit from multiple minds and avoid destructive isolation in decision-making.
Hosseini further stressed that trustworthiness is a foundational principle in counseling, referring to the Islamic maxim that “the one consulted is entrusted.” He noted that when expertise, ethical commitment, and goodwill are combined, many social and family challenges can be effectively resolved.
He added that in today’s complex social environment, timely and professional counseling can help address numerous issues facing families, youth, and even administrators. The online expansion of the Samah Center, he said, bridges distances and ensures access to reliable guidance regardless of location.
Established under the directive of Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, the Samah Islamic Counseling Centers were originally designed to provide specialized services to the public, particularly seminary students and their families. According to Hojatoleslam Shourvarzi, head of the Samah Counseling Centers, the organization currently operates 32 in-person centers nationwide.
With the inauguration of the virtual branch, the scope of services has significantly expanded. Shourvarzi revealed that 465 male and female counselors have registered to participate in the online program. They provide services daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on a rotating schedule.
To support the initiative, 1,000 dedicated telephone lines have been allocated—an unprecedented development within seminary-affiliated institutions.
Officials stated that all counselors hold master’s or doctoral degrees in relevant disciplines and have undergone rigorous screening processes, including professional interviews, personality assessments, and specialized aptitude evaluations. Each counselor operates strictly within his or her field of expertise.
The launch of the online Samah Islamic Counseling Center reflects broader efforts to integrate religious scholarship with modern psychological practice, providing structured, professional support rooted in Islamic ethics while responding to contemporary societal needs in the digital sphere.
The inauguration at the International Holy Quran Exhibition underscores the growing emphasis on combining Quranic teachings with practical social services, as organizers seek to project a model of faith-based counseling aimed at fostering stability, informed decision-making, and social well-being.
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