Hawzah News Agency- Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, director of Iran's Islamic seminaries, made the remarks during the closing session of the 13th Conference of Provincial Seminary Directors.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Light of Guidance for Humanity
Referring to the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birth anniversary, Ayatollah Arafi drew upon passages from Nahj al-Balagha, noting that Imam Ali (AS) provides a comprehensive, profound, and compelling portrait of the Prophet's character.
"From the Shia perspective, the chain of divine prophets has always been selected from the purest lineages and most purified wombs, and the earth has never been devoid of a divine proof and envoy," Ayatollah Arafi said. "This chain ultimately reached the blessed existence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in whose person divine manifestations and prophetic perfections reached their zenith."
He described the Prophet as both a manifestation of divine names and attributes and the recipient of God's final and most complete revelation, stating that no figure—past or future—will attain his station.
A Sacred Lineage
Ayatollah Arafi underscored that in Shia belief, both the historical origins of the Prophet and the continuation of this divine line through his purified household (Ahl al-Bayt) are regarded as sacred. "This blessed tree is linked to the house of monotheism and Prophet Abraham (AS), and its fruits have continued to flourish throughout history."
The Prophet, he said, serves as the lamp of guidance for humanity—a light not confined to his own era but one that illuminates subsequent ages and even the unseen realms.
Seminary Life as Continuation of Prophetic Mission
The senior cleric emphasized that those entering seminary life place themselves in a position of representing the luminous path of the prophets and divine saints. "The identity of religious mission and seminary responsibility must extend into our conduct, knowledge, ethics, and social engagement," Ayatollah Arafi said.
Imam Sadiq (AS): Embodiment of Ahl al-Bayt School
Turning to the birth anniversary of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (AS), the sixth Shia Imam, Ayatollah Arafi described him as the complete embodiment of the Ahl al-Bayt school of thought. He noted that while Imam Hussein's (AS) uprising at Karbala represented the epic dimension of Shia identity, Imam Sadiq's intellectual and scholarly movement represented its epistemic counterpart.
"Vast portions of the intellectual and doctrinal framework of Shia Islam were articulated and consolidated during Imam Sadiq's era," Ayatollah Arafi said, citing the thousands of narrators and students who studied under the Imam and the extensive body of hadith literature attributed to his teachings.
Preparedness for Contemporary Challenges
Ayatollah Arafi stressed that responding to "ongoing events"—a reference to a well-known hadith instructing believers to refer to narrators of prophetic tradition—requires more than simply transmitting narrations. "The seminary must be capable of regulating and guiding society's thought and knowledge in the face of new issues and transformations, grounded in the comprehensive system of Islamic teachings."
This, he said, demands continuous innovation, sustained creativity, and intellectual engagement to renew the seminary's responses authentically and fundamentally—without departing from the essential principles of Islam, the Shia school, and the scholarly methodology of the seminaries.
Training Comprehensive Scholars of Global Stature
The seminary director called for training a cohort of young scholars who combine specialization with comprehensive intellectual formation. "A scholar who can articulate the lofty ideas of the Ahl al-Bayt school and the Islamic Revolution to the world must possess not only expertise but also broad intellectual and epistemic foundations."
He cited the example of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, whose mastery of jurisprudence, theology, exegesis, Arabic literature, and deep familiarity with Islamic world affairs enabled him to exert extraordinary influence.
A Historic Opportunity
Ayatollah Arafi noted a shift in intellectual currents across the Islamic world, saying: "Today, a new atmosphere has emerged regarding the Islamic Revolution, Shia thought, and Islamic ideas. Even some academic elites in various countries have achieved deeper understanding through studying the works and ideas associated with the Revolution and its prominent figures."
This, he warned, represents a historic opportunity that must not be underestimated. "The seminaries must prepare themselves to respond to a vast volume of questions, doubts, and intellectual inquiries from elites across the Islamic world."
Attracting Exceptional Talent
Acknowledging the expansion of Iran's university system, Ayatollah Arafi urged seminary administrators to be vigilant in identifying and recruiting exceptional talent. "If we neglect this matter, we may no longer witness the emergence of figures of the caliber of Sheikh Ansari, Allameh Tabatabai, or Mirza Naini in the future."
He called for both quantitative growth in enrollment and targeted efforts to identify and retain gifted students.
Seminaries as Guardians of the Revolution
Ayatollah Arafi declared that Iran's Islamic seminaries consider themselves guardians of the Islamic Revolution, interpreting it through the thought of Imam Khomeini and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
"We stand upon the continuation of this path through the institution of Wilayat al-Faqih and leadership," he said. "Allegiance and obedience to the leadership are among the fundamental principles of our movement."
Solidarity with the Resistance Front
The senior cleric expressed humility before the sacrifices of the Iranian nation, the Islamic Ummah, and the fighters of the Resistance Front, describing resistance as a global movement that cannot be extinguished.
"Resistance may face pressure, suppression, or atrocities at a particular juncture or in a particular location, but this path and this current cannot be silenced," Arafi said.
He noted that the region, the Islamic world, and the globe currently stand at a critical crossroads requiring steadfastness against arrogant powers and oppressors.
A Civilizational Vision
Ayatollah Arafi urged officials across cultural, diplomatic, economic, and other sectors to advance the Islamic Revolution's goals with a civilizational vision and without fear or hesitation. "The culture of resistance must be attended to in all arenas—from economics and diplomacy to politics and culture."
He also commended Iran's armed forces, expressing hope they would continue to play a pioneering role in realizing the Islamic system's grand objectives.
Looking Ahead
The seminary director called for the new academic year to begin with a civilizational outlook, warning against neglecting the great civilizational struggle underway. "The seminary must not lose sight of this great battle and must train scholars of the highest caliber for the future."
He concluded by praying for the continuation of the path of the martyrs, the success of Islamic system officials, and the ultimate connection of the Islamic Revolution to the global revolution of Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance).
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