On Tuesday, 6 Khordad 1404 (May 27, 2025), the twenty-second session of the series was organized by the Institute for Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, Qom Branch, featuring a lecture by Ayatullah Sayyid Mujtaba Nur Mufidi, a professor of advanced jurisprudential studies in the Qom Seminary. The session was attended by a group of scholars and enthusiasts.

Ayatullah Sayyid Mujtaba Nur Mufidi began his remarks by expressing gratitude to the organizers and highlighting the importance of expounding Imam Khomeini’s school of thought, particularly during the anniversary of his passing. Citing the recent message of the Supreme Leader, he stated, “His message is an updated and complementary version of the frameworks outlined by Imam Khomeini for an ideal seminary.”

He identified five foundational principles for a progressive and exemplary seminary and elaborated on them.

The first and most fundamental principle for an ideal seminary, he noted, is self-purification and divine piety, which he described as the cornerstone of any progress and elevation in the seminary. He emphasized that without self-discipline and adherence to ethical principles, other efforts would not achieve their ultimate goal of nurturing divine individuals and guiding society.

The second principle, according to Ayatullah Nur Mufidi, is the “comprehensiveness of the seminary.” This is a point emphasized by both Imam Khomeini and the Supreme Leader. Quoting the late Imam, he said, “Scholars must be multifaceted, and seminaries should reflect the multifaceted nature of Islam and humanity.” He further noted that the Supreme Leader has similarly stated, “The seminary is an outward-looking institution whose output serves the intellectual and cultural spheres of society at all levels. It is not merely an institute for teaching and learning but a comprehensive system encompassing knowledge, education, and social and political functions. Therefore, a progressive seminary must actively engage with society and respond to its intellectual, cultural, social, and political needs.”

The third principle highlighted by Ayatullah Nur Mufidi was the “jihadi identity” of the seminary and clergy. He stated, “A jihadi identity, rejection of oppressive systems, and resistance against global exploiters are among the characteristics of a progressive seminary.”

He identified the fourth principle as solidarity with the people and being a support for the disadvantaged, noting, “These qualities place the seminary and clergy at the forefront of the struggle against oppression and arrogance, defending the rights of the people, especially the underprivileged.”

The fifth principle for a progressive seminary, in Ayatullah Nur Mufidi’s view, is adopting a governmental and societal perspective. He explained, “This perspective enables jurisprudence to provide solutions for managing society on a large scale.”

Ayatullah Nur Mufidi further addressed two additional points raised in the Supreme Leader’s recent message: first, participation in the development and exposition of systems for societal governance, and second, civilizational innovations within the framework of Islam’s universal message.

By outlining these principles, Ayatullah Nur Mufidi presented a vision of an ideal and aspirational seminary, rooted in authentic religious principles and the thoughts of Imam Khomeini, while updated and refined by the Supreme Leader to address future societal needs.

Referring to the gap between the current state of seminaries and this ideal vision, he quoted Imam Khomeini, who said, “The clergy cannot fully comprehend that conventional ijtihad is insufficient for governing society unless they actively engage in all societal issues and challenges.” He also referenced the Supreme Leader’s remark about “the misalignment between promotional efforts and the intellectual and cultural realities of the people, particularly the youth,” describing this gap as an undeniable reality.

Regarding the concept of “jurisprudential efficacy,” Ayatullah Nur Mufidi defined it as “the impact of jurisprudence in achieving its objectives.” He stressed that to assess the efficacy of jurisprudence, its goals must first be clearly defined. Rejecting the view that religion pertains only to the hereafter, he highlighted Imam Khomeini’s comprehensive perspective, which considers jurisprudence and Islam as responsive to all aspects of human life, from birth to death. According to the Imam, jurisprudence provides a complete program for managing human life and ensuring the progress and advancement of nations.

Ayatullah Nur Mufidi then outlined four requirements for achieving effective jurisprudence in a progressive and impactful seminary:

1. A Comprehensive View of Islam and Jurisprudence: The first condition is a holistic understanding of religion and jurisprudence, addressing both worldly and spiritual aspects of human life.
2. The Role of Governance in Jurisprudential Efficacy: He emphasized that without governance, jurisprudence cannot be effective. Quoting Imam Khomeini, he said, “Governance for a jurist is the practical philosophy of all jurisprudence.” Thus, belief in the theory of religious governance and the guardianship of the jurist (Wilayat al-Faqih) is essential for jurisprudential efficacy.
3. Attention to Time and Place in Deriving Rulings: He underscored the importance of considering temporal and spatial contexts in understanding and extracting jurisprudential rulings, a point particularly emphasized by Imam Khomeini in his later years. This approach enables jurists to provide more precise and relevant solutions to social and governmental issues, transcending traditional ijtihad.
4. Forward-Thinking: Citing Imam Khomeini, Ayatullah Nur Mufidi noted, “Seminaries and the clergy must be aware of society’s future needs and always stay several steps ahead of events.” Therefore, jurisprudence and seminaries must be prepared to address emerging issues through planning and foresight.

In conclusion, Ayatullah Nur Mufidi reiterated the Supreme Leader’s points on “participation in the development and exposition of systems for societal governance” and “civilizational innovations within the framework of Islam’s universal message.” He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive, systematic approach to jurisprudence that ensures internal coherence. He expressed hope that ongoing scholarly efforts in seminaries would lead to the realization of a progressive, exemplary, and ideal seminary, achieving true jurisprudential efficacy.