The fourth pre-scientific session of the Conference on Tourism Jurisprudence, titled “The Necessities of International Protocol from the Perspective of Jurisprudence,” was held on March 12, 2019, through the efforts of the Al-Mustafa International University’s representation in Tabriz and with the participation of the Al-Mustafa Institute for Islamic Sciences Research.

According to the Ijtihad Network, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Mehdi Darghahi, in the fourth pre-scientific session of the Conference on Tourism Jurisprudence titled “The Necessities of International Protocol from the Perspective of Jurisprudence,” while providing definitions of protocol and stating that protocol refers to the prevailing customs and etiquette in international communications, emphasized: Protocol refers to the set of customary regulations in relations between heads of states, government representatives and diplomats, between the foreign ministry and foreign representations, as well as in international assemblies and conferences.

He, referring to the fact that protocol encompasses the manner and framework of interactions and exchanges, including good conduct, courtesy, and adherence to arrangements, laws, regulations, and domestic and international conventions, stated: In general, protocol consists of a collection of etiquette and customs that, at international levels, govern relations and interactions between governments in the manner of holding official ceremonies among heads of state and political representatives and members of their diplomatic delegations, as well as in conferences, seminars, and international and non-international assemblies hosting foreigners (whether diplomats, merchants, tourists, or experts), and which are applied in the form of correspondence, communications, travels, meetings, encounters, and negotiations.

Darghahi referred to the types of protocol from the perspectives of the type of individuals, the acts of the obligated person, the managerial process, and also the customary method in international communications and relations, and acknowledged: Verbal protocol, non-verbal written protocol, and non-verbal non-written protocol are among the most important categories in the division of protocol based on the acts of the obligated person.

The researcher at the Al-Mustafa International Research Institute, while referring to the importance of protocol from the perspective of the customary method in international communications and relations, named protocol in correspondence and communications, protocol in travels, and protocol in meetings as types of this category of division.

The speaker of this session, after elucidating the fundamental concepts related to the topic of this session, referred to the importance of protocol in the international arena and the position of national-religious beliefs therein.

Darghahi, in continuation, while referring to the necessities of international protocol from the perspective of jurisprudence, noted: The obligation to observe the supremacy, elevation, and majesty of Islam in the protocol process, preserving human dignity in the protocol process, and precise knowledge of the customs, protocols, etiquette, and traditions of the counterpart are among the most important common necessities in all types of protocol.

He, while emphasizing the obligation to preserve the secrets of the Islamic system in the protocol process, stressed the need for behavioral proportionality in the protocol process and reminded: Vigilance against the tricks of the counterpart in the protocol process, the prohibition of extravagance in the protocol process, and also the prohibition of insulting the sanctities of the counterpart in the protocol process are among other shared necessities of the types of protocol.

The researcher at the Al-Mustafa International Research Institute, in another part of this session, referred to the specific necessities of each type of international protocol from the perspective of the customary method in international communications and relations.

He, in relation to the necessities pertaining to travels, focused on the necessities of the envoy or representative and emphasized: Apparent necessities, spiritual necessities, firm faith in the religion of Islam and acting upon its teachings, patience in action and firmness in belief, loyalty, trustworthiness, and honesty in the protocol process, insight, cleverness, and prudence in thought, speech, and action, courage and boldness in the protocol process, desirable proficiency in verbal communications, good sociability and noble ethics in interactions, and possessing sufficient skills in execution and management of protocol are requirements of this section.

Darghahi added: In the domain of necessities from reception to farewell, attention must also be paid to issues such as using a reception and farewell party of equal rank and status to the guest, preserving the guest’s privacy, the guest’s freedom in beliefs and behaviors lacking social effects, preserving the guest’s social boundaries, attention to the type, appearance, and form of clothing, protection of the guest throughout the mission, and so forth.

The researcher at the Al-Mustafa International Research Institute referred to the necessities related to meetings in the manner of dialogue and negotiation and noted: In the process of meetings, attention must be paid to issues including rational-reasonable necessities, devotional necessities, and customary and contractual necessities in the manner of negotiation and dialogue.

Darghahi emphasized: The necessity of utilizing good speech, wisdom, good admonition, and the best disputation in dialogue, attention to interests in explicitness, omission, and generality of statements, the necessity of utilizing body language in dialogue, and purifying dialogue and negotiation from inappropriate speech are among the most important rational-reasonable necessities in the manner of negotiation.

He considered the obligation to avoid flattery in dialogue, purifying dialogue from ugly speech, verbal abuse, and using derogatory labels, the obligation to dissociate from falsehood in dialogue, and the preference for beginning dialogue and conversation with “In the Name of Allah” as among the most important devotional necessities in the manner of dialogue, and reminded: “Etiquette for making speech attractive,” “Etiquette for voice tone and speech manner,” “Etiquette for silence and listening,” “Etiquette for delivering speeches,” “Etiquette for making speech impactful,” and so forth are among other topics mentioned as customary and contractual necessities in the manner of dialogue.

The speaker of this session, in continuation, emphasized the necessity of observing the supremacy, elevation, and majesty of Islam in the protocol process and noted: The finality of Islam and the harmony of its teachings with human nature necessitate its supremacy and precedence over all instructions derived from previous religions and laws, as well as human-made rules.

Darghahi added: In the process of international communications and interactions, those obligated in the field of protocol must regulate and manage their behavior and performance in such a way that the supremacy of Islamic teachings, doctrines, and values in all its aspects remains preserved over human-made rules in the matter of protocol.

The researcher at the Al-Mustafa International Research Institute, stating that adherence to Islamic teachings, values, and doctrines prevails over certain expediency considerations in the diplomatic arena, emphasized: Those obligated in the field of protocol, in line with safeguarding Islamic teachings and doctrines, must prevent any form of humiliation or insult to divine rulings and values in the protocol process.

He, while emphasizing that in drafting laws and regulations and concluding bilateral memoranda of understanding in the matter of protocol, action must be taken in a way that does not entail the elevation and supremacy of non-Muslims over Muslims, stated: In implementing laws and customary etiquette in social relations, especially in diplomatic relations, if the behavior and actions of the obligated in adhering to prevailing customs and etiquette result in the elevation and majesty of non-Muslims over Muslims, the aforementioned protocol lacks jurisprudential legitimacy.

Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Darghahi, in the final part of his speech, referred to Quranic and narrative evidences for the necessity of observing the supremacy and elevation of believers, which in a way constitutes preserving the supremacy and elevation of Islam, and emphasized: It is incumbent upon all members of the Muslim nation, especially officials and rulers, in interactions and international relations with other governments and nations, to manage their behavior and performance in the direction of the supremacy and exaltation of the Islamic government.