Hawzah News Agency- His remarks came during a meeting of the Association of Scholars and Orators of Hyderabad, Deccan, attended by clerics, preachers, eulogists, and officials from various sections of the association. Participants discussed key religious, educational, social, and economic issues facing the Shia community, the protection of religious endowments (waqf), strengthening unity among scholars, educating the younger generation, and the need to bolster the community's representation.
A report on the association's religious, social, and welfare activities was presented at the meeting. Participants stressed the need to strengthen unity and solidarity among scholars and religious institutions, and to forge coordinated collective efforts to address the community's problems.
Protection of Shia Endowments Stressed
Ya'sub Abbas, Secretary-General of the All-India Shia Personal Law Board, said the community's development and the resolution of its problems require coordinated planning and action in education, protection of endowments, social welfare, and effective representation. Emphasizing the need for legal and social protection of properties and endowments, he called for greater use of legal and social capacities to safeguard these assets.
Abbas also stressed the need to establish new educational centers and strengthen existing institutions to provide suitable educational opportunities for the younger generation. Referring to the Shia College in Lucknow, he described quality education for the new generation as a key need of the Shia community.
The Secretary-General of the All-India Shia Personal Law Board also praised the welfare activities of the Indian scholars' and orators' association, citing measures such as providing health insurance to scholars and helping cover the tuition costs of their children.
He stressed that attending to the welfare of scholars and supporting their families is part of the community's social responsibility, and that such measures can strengthen the social foundations of the religious community and improve service delivery.
Scholars' Responsibilities Extend Beyond Religious Matters
Hojatoleslam Ali Haider Farishta, founder and supreme supervisor of the All-India Association of Scholars and Orators, highlighted the broad role of scholars in society, saying their responsibilities today are not limited to providing religious guidance but also include playing an effective role in resolving social, educational, and welfare issues.
He described the protection of endowments as one of the important social responsibilities and stressed the need to strengthen ties between scholars, religious centers, and community officials.
Farishta also noted the association's engagement with police and relevant authorities, saying the aim is to convey the Shia community's issues and demands to officials and to cooperate in finding practical solutions to existing problems.
Emphasis on Scholar Unity, Organized Efforts
Hojatoleslam Sayyid Hanan Razavi, head of the Association of Scholars and Orators of Hyderabad, Deccan, stressed the need to strengthen unity among scholars and bring collective efforts into cohesion.
He said an integrated platform and cooperation among religious and social institutions and figures are essential to effectively raise and pursue the Shia community's issues from the local level to state and national levels.
Call to Strengthen India-Iran Ties
In another part of the meeting, relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and India were discussed. Participants, citing the historical, cultural, civilizational, and economic ties between the two countries, stressed the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Speakers called on the Indian government to further strengthen the country's historical, cultural, and economic relations with Iran and to develop new areas of cooperation between the two nations. They also urged New Delhi to seriously address the religious, educational, social, and other legal demands of India's Shia community and to take effective measures to resolve these issues.
At the end of the meeting, prayers were offered for the victory and honor of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Participants prayed for Iran's steadfastness and success against the United States, Israel, and their allies, and for the destruction of its enemies.
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