Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Dr. Alizadeh Mousavi: The Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies Must Attain International Authority. This Research Institute Possesses the Capacity to Become a Civilizational Authority in the Islamic World.
Ayatollah Noorhofeidi: Presenting the Teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in Today’s World Intellectual Atmosphere Has Acquired Redoubled Necessity, and the Research Institute Will Seriously Pursue Its Scientific Mission Along This Path.
Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyyed Mehdi Alizadeh Mousavi, the esteemed Representative of the Supreme Leader in Bangladesh, visited the Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies, becoming closely acquainted with the scientific, international, and managerial activities of this research center.
According to the Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies, during this meeting, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Dorri, Deputy Director of the Research Institute, while explicating the founding process and six-year scientific activities of this center, presented a report on 10 active specialized departments, including the jurisprudence of economics, health, art, environment, and family. Emphasizing an approach of avoiding symbolic actions, he articulated the “Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jurisprudence” project and announced that 700 entries have been prepared to date and 360 jurisprudential subjects with gathered sources have been placed at the disposal of researchers.
The Deputy Director of the Research Institute, pointing to critical-analytical reports on over 290 jurisprudential books, highlighted existing research gaps in research sources and considered these gaps as requiring serious entry by researchers. He also announced the institute’s “Wiki” platform, which smartly and continuously places all data at the disposal of the scientific community.
Hujjat al-Islam Dorri added: “By collecting 37 specialized journal titles in the field of contemporary jurisprudence published in Iran, as well as producing and publishing 28 electronic journals through the media department, this research institute covers up-to-date findings and discussions of contemporary jurisprudence. The institute’s technology department also utilizes artificial intelligence capacities in text translation, audio transcription, and conducting primary research.”
Referring to the institute’s activities in publishing books, he stated: “Currently, we have approximately 40 book titles ready for print, of which six to seven titles have been published, six titles sent for licensing, and eight titles are in formatting stages.” He also announced the new decision of the institute regarding the immediate translation and publication of all published books into Arabic and English, adding that this translation process has recently commenced.
Hujjat al-Islam Dorri announced the preparation of a comprehensive chatbot scheduled to house valuable information existing on the institute’s portal, including lectures, books, professors, research topics, and advisor professors. He stated: “This chatbot, following information completion and in cooperation with the technology department, will be ready to provide services to researchers and enthusiasts so they can easily access their required information.”
Expanding International Interactions and Pioneering the Use of Modern Technologies
Dr. Moballeghi, Director of International Affairs at the Research Institute, enumerated four fundamental strategies of this section: First, compiling a “Comprehensive Map of International Islamic and Jurisprudential Studies Centers”; a database that, by identifying nearly 120 authoritative global centers, will soon be available to the public as an online reference. Second, “Establishing the Authority of International Scientific Events”; comprising monthly monitoring of 9 to 10 authoritative global conferences and scientific sessions and providing direct links for participation and contribution by Iranian researchers. Third, “Holding Specialized Sessions and Jurisprudential Symposia”; wherein 16 specialized sessions and 4 international symposia featuring prominent scientific figures from countries such as Iraq have been held to date, including the recent session titled “The Methodology of Deduction from the Holy Quran in Sunni Jurisprudential Works” featuring professors from the University of Kufa. Fourth, “Developing Interactions”; comprising strengthening virtual communications as well as in-person diplomacy through hosting and dispatching researchers. Dr. Moballeghi, pointing to extensive interactions with Arab countries and Lebanon, viewed the future horizon of the research institute as expanding this communication network to the Eastern Islamic world (Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India) to establish “contemporary jurisprudence studies” as a pervasive scientific current in the Islamic world.
Digital and Print Library: Comprehensiveness in Sources and Innovation in Access
Subsequently, Mr. Rostami, Director of the Research Institute’s Library, introduced the activities of this unit since 2020. He announced that this digital library has gathered over 25,000 information records in three languages—Persian, Arabic, and English—and more than 18,000 documents (articles, dissertations, and books) possess complete full-text files. He also pointed to uploading detailed tables of contents for Persian books to acquaint researchers with the content.
Rostami added: “The research institute’s library has turned into one of the main sources introduced by active artificial intelligence platforms in this domain, recording approximately 7,000 to 8,000 unique visits monthly from AI systems prior to internet disruptions.”
The Library Director recalled: “Alongside the digital library, print sources at the institute have also sought to fill the source gap in fields such as medical jurisprudence, art jurisprudence, and economic jurisprudence by purchasing and collecting over 5,000 specialized volumes, while procuring sources related to Sunni researchers’ approaches.”
Subsequently, Hujjat al-Islam Mousavi, head of the Advanced Contemporary Jurisprudence Lectures Website, announced the uploading of 390 contemporary jurisprudence lectures from various years by over 111 professors, stating: “These lectures are categorized across 40 different subjects, and we are currently updating approximately 80 percent of these lectures for the current year.”
He added: “In addition to dedicated lectures, instances where authorities addressed contemporary jurisprudence topics in other lectures have also been gathered and included on this site. To date, over 12,000 files have been uploaded, which, including the media collection, brings this statistic to nearly 14,000 files.”
Hujjat al-Islam Mousavi, pointing to the research institute’s policies regarding expanding activities into the international arena, stated: “According to directives from officials, entry into the domain of Arabic-speaking professors’ lectures from Karbala, Najaf, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE has commenced.” He added: “Lectures of professors from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have also been collected under the titles of Fiqh al-Nawazil and Mustahdasat [newly emerging issues].”
Subsequently, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyyed Mehdi Alizadeh Mousavi, Representative of the Supreme Leader in Bangladesh, appreciating the founder of the Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies, Ayatollah Seyyed Kazem Noorhofeidi, Representative of the Supreme Leader in Golestan Province, called his role in consolidating unity and disseminating the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in this province highly prominent, emphasizing the necessity of scientific and international branding centered on prominent jurisprudential personalities and requesting an exit of research activities from a limited domestic circle.
The Representative of the Supreme Leader in Bangladesh added: “The points raised were extremely valuable and illuminating, demonstrating that the research institute complex benefits from faithful and devoted human resources stepping along the path of scientific and religious development by divine grace. He further emphasized: ‘The Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies must achieve international authority.'”
Elucidating the capacities of the institute under his management, he stated: “We operate in three strategic areas: First, extracting a model for ‘dialogue’ (including inter-faith, inter-religious, and even with non-believers) based on ‘Etiquette of Disagreement’ (Adab al-Khilaf), which focuses on jurisprudential discussions beyond theological discussions. Second, the domain of beliefs and trend analysis addressing intellectual foundations; and third, the civilizational domain responding to challenges of the decline of Islamic civilization.”
The Representative of the Supreme Leader in Bangladesh, pointing to the specific situation of the Bangladesh region and the Subcontinent, specified: “We face a population of 170 million possessing immense interest in our jurisprudential sources. Unlike the Arab world, which is sometimes accompanied by diplomatic and religious challenges, the Subcontinent region is thirsty for the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), and universities in this region strongly demand jurisprudential sources and interactions.” He added: “Even among Ahl al-Hadith and Wahhabi currents, shifts in approach and demand for scientific dialogue are observed, which represents a precious opportunity.”
Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Alizadeh Mousavi also suggested that given the very favorable reception in recognizing Shi’i scientific centers, full readiness exists for the Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies to be introduced as a flagship center for holding joint sessions and exchanging information.
The Representative of the Supreme Leader in Bangladesh, criticizing weaknesses in introducing prominent Shi’i figures to the world, stated: “Unfortunately, we possess weak branding in the international arena. While certain currents maintain a presence in 110 countries worldwide centered around a single personality, many of our great jurists remain unknown even among Shi’is in neighboring countries.”
He added: “We must abandon ‘local-mindedness’ and, relying on the capacity of prominent, first-tier personalities, create a central core to introduce contemporary Shi’i jurisprudence to the world.”
Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Alizadeh Mousavi in Bangladesh concluded by stating that “all our scientific assets must not remain confined domestically,” announcing full readiness to host specialized sessions, dispatch professors to the Subcontinent, and translate and promote the institute’s research achievements in this region, emphasizing that the accumulated capacities in this research institute possess the necessary potential to become a civilizational authority in the Islamic world.
At the conclusion of this meeting, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Noorhofeidi, Director of the Research Institute of Contemporary Jurisprudence Studies, expressed gratitude for the presence of Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyyed Mehdi Alizadeh Mousavi and his presentation of valuable, illuminating discussions, emphasizing: “This session was a precious opportunity to exchange views and strengthen synergy, and I am grateful for his goodwill and positive outlook.”
Referring to the formation process of the research institute’s activities, he stated: “In recent years, remarkable movements have occurred in the arena of jurisprudential research, rooted in scientific planning and the sincere efforts of every single individual in this complex; we take this as a good omen and hope that by divine grace, the future horizon will be brighter than the past.”
Ayatollah Noorhofeidi concluded by emphasizing: “Presenting and elucidating the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) in today’s world intellectual atmosphere has acquired redoubled necessity, and the research institute will seriously pursue its scientific mission along this path.”