Hawzah News Agency- In a video message aired during the unveiling ceremony for The Intellectual Framework of Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi in Qom, Ayatollah Sobhani stressed the societal importance of honoring religious scholars. He stated that commemorating such figures inspires the younger generation to pursue knowledge and elevates the standing of scholarship in society.
Citing a Quranic verse on the lofty status of the faithful and the learned, the senior cleric noted that even the Quran’s directive to make room for scholars in gatherings underscores the exalted position of knowledge and those who possess it.
Ayatollah Sobhani recounted the academic biography of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, born in 1926 in Shiraz. After early studies in his hometown, he entered the Qom Islamic Seminary in his youth, attending the lectures of prominent scholars such as Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi and Ayatollah Damad. He also spent time in Najaf, studying under Grand Ayatollahs Hakim and Khoei before returning to Qom to advance his studies in jurisprudence and its principles.
The senior cleric further noted Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s extensive study of philosophy and theology under the renowned Allameh Tabatabaei, highlighting that he attended his classes for around five years and translated the first volume of the seminal Al-Mizan exegesis into Persian at the master’s own request.
Describing innovation as the most important feature of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s work, Ayatollah Sobhani singled out his initiative in composing religious teachings in fluent Persian tailored to the needs of the new generation—at a time when most available texts were either in Arabic or archaic literary styles inaccessible to contemporary readers.
He also hailed the compilation of Tafsir Nemouneh (The Ideal Exegesis) as another landmark achievement, noting it was undertaken precisely when society required a clear, Persian commentary to address the everyday questions of youth. The work, now translated into Arabic, serves as a key reference for researchers worldwide.
Ayatollah Sobhani further acknowledged Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi’s enduring contributions to the Islamic Seminary through the establishment of schools and his influential role in drafting the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. These efforts, he said, reflect a forward-thinking vision and constitute lasting service in both scholarly and public domains.
He concluded by praying for the health and continued success of the grand jurists and senior figures of the Islamic Seminary.
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