Hawzah News Agency- Ayatollah Alireza Arafi made the remarks at the "Sogvareh Yas Nabavi" conference for preachers dispatched by the Endowments and Charity Affairs Organization, held at the conference hall of the holy shrine of Imamzadeh Shah Seyyed Ali in Qom.
Referring to the country's special preaching conditions, Ayatollah Arafi said an exceptional opportunity has arisen for the clergy's presence in the field and direct contact with the people, and preachers must recognize the importance of this moment and use it to deepen religious beliefs and strengthen Islamic culture.
Tailoring Preaching to Society's Realities and People's Questions
The seminary chief referred to parts of the "Pioneering and Leading Seminary" message of the martyred Leader of the Revolution, stressing the need to understand society's intellectual and cultural atmosphere and to tailor preaching content to realities and people's questions, especially those of the young. He added that seminaries are outward-looking institutions whose mission is not merely to answer doubts, but to take an active and effective stance against deviant intellectual and cultural currents and to bring their power of thought and response to the field.
Five Key Requirements for Effective Preaching
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi said successful preaching requires several fundamental pillars, the first being the scientific depth and solidity of the preacher's content. He said simplifying and smoothing content for better transmission to the audience is necessary, but must not weaken the scientific strength and intellectual backing of the speech. Preaching content must rest on reliable sources and sound jurisprudential, theological, hadith and exegetical methods.
Referring to the scholarly and preaching legacy of the martyred Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari, he described his works as an example of the union of engaging expression and deep thought, stressing the need to continue studying the works of this distinguished thinker.
1. Order and Coherence of Preaching Content
Ayatollah Arafi listed order and coherence of content as another requirement, stressing that a preacher must have a comprehensive plan in mind before speaking and know what path he is pursuing for the intellectual and spiritual growth of adolescents and young people. A sermon must not be a collection of scattered material but should be presented on the basis of a coherent plan suited to the audience's needs.
2. Attractiveness and Appeal of Expression
He described the attractiveness and appeal of expression as another pillar of preaching, saying the use of stories, history, poetry, literature, up-to-date analysis and topics of public interest can make a speech more engaging — provided this appeal is combined with scientific depth and content order.
3. Linking Religious Teachings to Current Social Issues
Ayatollah Arafi stressed the need to link religious teachings to current social issues, citing Motahhari's "Mutual Services of Islam and Iran." He said the preacher's art lies in presenting lofty religious teachings in the framework of society's current questions and issues. This requires a proper understanding of the social, cultural and intellectual issues of the time and, through careful reference to the Quran and traditions, providing documented answers suited to today's needs.
4. Mastery of Hadith and Systematic Compilation of Narrative Sources
Stressing the importance of mastering hadith and systematically compiling narrative sources, he said preachers should maintain study and content files on various topics and continuously record and complete their findings so they have sufficient scientific backing when facing various issues and questions.
5. An Active and Innovative Approach
Ayatollah Arafi described an active and innovative approach as another feature of effective preaching, saying a preacher must not become passive or weak in the face of intellectual and cultural assaults, but must possess sufficient faith, knowledge and learning to both answer questions and explain and critique the intellectual and cultural roots of hostile currents.
Civilizational Encounter Between the Islamic Republic and the West
Referring to the civilizational encounter between the Islamic Republic and the West, Ayatollah Arafi said the main difference with the West is not merely over certain everyday issues and phenomena but lies at the level of intellectual and epistemological foundations. The West has over several centuries formed and expanded an intellectual system based on materialist thought devoid of God, and our preaching mission is to present the intellectual system of Islam and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) to society and the world as a comprehensive and alternative model.
Need to Overhaul Preaching System in Line with Global Changes
Ayatollah Arafi referred to the capacities created on the global stage after recent developments and the growing attention of nations to the Islamic Republic and Islamic teachings, stressing the need to rebuild the preaching system in line with these conditions. He said the volume of questions and the reception seen internationally cannot be answered with the limited methods of the past, and the capacities of cyberspace and artificial intelligence must be put at the service of promoting religion.
The member of the Supreme Council of Seminaries added that the preaching system must now be rebuilt to match the global scope of developments and new needs, and the capacity of modern technologies must be used to convey religious teachings. Achieving more coherent leadership in the field of preaching is also necessary for greater impact, he said.
Praise for Preachers' Efforts
In conclusion, Ayatollah Arafi praised the efforts of preachers and organizations active in religious outreach, expressing hope that with the presence of young, motivated clerics and cultural warriors inside and outside the country, the ground will be further prepared for spreading the teachings of Islam, the thought of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) and the discourse of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and throughout the world.
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