Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Seyyed Alireza Razavi, head of the Information Science and Knowledge Studies Research Institute at Noor Center, spoke to reporters today, Monday, July 20, on the eve of Arbaeen. Highlighting the center's activities related to Imam Hussein (PBUH), he announced the production of the specialized "Maqtal al-Hussein" software and the implementation of two other major projects in the field of Ashura studies.
"This comprehensive research collection provides a specialized digital library with over 100 book titles on Imam Hussein (PBUH) and the Ashura uprising for researchers and enthusiasts," he stated.
Razavi elaborated: "The Maqtal al-Hussein software, as a comprehensive research collection, places a specialized library at users' disposal. Of these works, 26 titles are exclusively dedicated to Maqtal texts, eight titles cover the history and biography of Imam Hussein (PBUH), six titles introduce the companions and martyrs of Karbala, and 37 titles consist of general historical sources used for comparative and supplementary studies."
A Digital Library for Ashura Research
The head of the research institute noted that this is the center's first product in this domain. Beyond the specialized library, the software contains diverse sections. "In the gallery section, approximately 50 audio files of Maqtal recitations based on the book 'Eshq va Atash'—a contemporary rendering of Seyyed ibn Tawus's Lohoof and other authoritative sources—are presented. Additionally, over 170 hours of lectures by prominent scholars, orators, and preachers, along with more than 600 eulogy pieces, have been included in this collection."
Voice Search and the Map of the Husseini Caravan's Route: Key Innovations
Razavi pointed to other capabilities of the software, stating: "It offers a map of Imam Hussein's (PBUH) route from Medina to Mecca, then to Karbala, as well as the path of the captives' caravan to Kufa, Damascus, and its return to Medina. One of the standout features of this product is its use of voice search technology, allowing the user to search for a term and be directed straight to the segment of a lecture where that term is mentioned. At the time of its production, this capability was considered a valuable and rare innovation among cultural and research products."
Mobile Application: A Timed Narrative from Medina to the Captives' Return
Regarding the center's second project, Hojatoleslam Razavi stated: "The mobile application 'Maqtal al-Hussein' (PBUH) is the second project currently in production. This application will include a library of approximately 20 titles of Maqtal sources and Ashura-related works. One of its key sections is a timeline chronicling all events related to Imam Hussein (PBUH), from the departure from Medina in Rajab 60 AH to the return of the captives' caravan to Medina, presented in chronological order with documented explanations and references to historical sources."
He added: "A section introducing the personalities and martyrs of Karbala will provide users with a collection of historical information about each companion and their role in the Ashura movement. Eulogies, lectures, visitations, supplications, and a map of the Husseini caravan's route are among the application's other features. The product is expected to be ready for use in the coming months."
Imam Hussein Encyclopedia: Complementing Noor Center's Academic Approach
Razavi described the third project underway as the Imam Hussein (PBUH) Encyclopedia, which complements the library-oriented approach of the "Maqtal al-Hussein" software. "The goal of this encyclopedia, going beyond the mere provision of sources, is to present scientific and documented content within a tree-structured framework covering the life, history, and martyrdom account of Imam Hussein (PBUH), centered on the Ashura uprising and its aftermath. All entries are organized with citations to authoritative sources, enabling researchers, religious propagators, and devotees to benefit not only from a specialized digital library but also from a comprehensive, well-documented, and systematic encyclopedia on the life, movement, and historical consequences of the uprising of Aba Abdullah al-Hussein (PBUH)."
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