30 institutions active in international arena present at Lights of Guidance exhibition: Farmanian

News Exhibitions

Wednesday, 04 January 2023

The Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Lights of Guidance exhibition has about 30 booths, the most of which belong to non-governmental organizations active in the international arena.”

ABWA Official Website – On Wednesday, January 4, 2023, in a press conference on the sidelines of the Lights of Guidance exhibition in the Ghadir Hall of the Islamic Propagation Office of the Qom Seminary, while pointing out the participation of various institutions in the exhibition, Dr. Mahdi Farmanian, Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly stated, “Lights of Guidance exhibition has about 30 booths, the most of which belong to non-governmental organizations active in the international arena. It is estimated that about 200 non-governmental organizations and institution in the country operate in the international arena (to propagate Islam). We should monitor these institutions so that in the future we can invite them all to Lights of Guidance exhibition.”

“The purpose of holding the Lights of Guidance exhibition was, first of all, to identify non-governmental organizations active in the international arena, then these institutions know each other to increase synergy between them. We seek to create synergy between non-governmental and governmental organizations active in the international arena to strengthen small organizations,” he added.

“Lights of Guidance exhibition was opened on December 31, 2022, on the establishment anniversary of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly. In the Assembly, considering the change of approach, it has been emphasized that non-governmental organizations should be identified, and they should be supported in various fields, such as publishing and media,” added the Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

Referring to the activity of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in publications, Farmanian stated, “About 2500 books have been published in the Assembly, and earlier, we provided their pdf and word files to the guests of the 7^th General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly. Also, the files of these books will be available to participating institutions in Lights of Guidance exhibition.”

“The project AhlulBayt (a.s.) lifestyle have started in the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, and the Assembly is ready to sign contracts with writers to write about the topic in different languages,” he continued, “In this project, we seek to answer 20 main questions about the lifestyle of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) and different other issues such as the life of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) and interacting with others.”

“Currently, 514 books have been translated or are being translated in the Assembly, and we are ready to cooperate with other institutions to print these books in different countries. Also, a department called the Department of Strategic Affairs and Thinking has been established in the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, whose task is to identify the damages during the 30-year activity of this Assembly, in collaboration with a reputable research institution. In this department, we will conduct future research and studies. In the Assembly, various ways of preaching in religions, cults and different schools of thought have been observed,” added the Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

Referring to the existing challenge to establish Shia studies centers in the world, Farmanian stated, “To establish a center of Shiite studies in one of the prestigious universities in the world, we need two million dollars annually. However, we are pursuing the establishment of Shiite studies center in world universities, as well as looking for a way to reduce the costs of establishing and running such centers.”

“Doing the same work by different organizations and institutions active in the international arena has become less. In the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, in order to prevent doing the same works with others, we inform other organizations and institutions of any measures we take,” he continued.

“About 400 people from the Shiite world figures have applied for membership in the General Assembly of the Assembly, some of them are from Shiite sects. Followers of other Islamic denominations are not members of the Assembly,” continued the Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

“The approach of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly has been changed from translation to authoring works,” Farmanian clarified, “The AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly supports authors who write appropriate books in different languages.”

“The world’s Muslim population is estimated to be 1.7 billion people, of which 335 million are Shiites, according to the statistics of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly,” he continued.

“The General Directorate of Cyberspace was established about a year ago. In this General Directorate, we seek to support institutions active in cyberspace abroad. Also, the establishment of “Rahnama Portal” and “Naba Application” in five languages, among other activities of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly,” expressed the Deputy for Scientific and Cultural Affairs of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

It should be mentioned that on the establishment anniversary of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the exhibition of the achievements of institutions and organizations active in the international propagation of Islam, entitled “Lights of Guidance” is being held from Saturday, December 31, 2022, until January Thursday 5, 2023, in the conference hall of the Islamic Propagation Office of the Seminary.

It is also worth noting that the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly was established on December 31, 1990, with the aim of gathering Shiites, establishing relationships within the Shiite world, promoting Shiites seminaries, solving the problems of Shiites with other Islamic Denominations, and benefiting from real and legal capabilities of Shiites.

The Assembly was established by the order of Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, on December 25, 1990, with the aim of introducing the revolutionary foundations, and thought of the Islamic system of Iran to Shiites all over the world. /345/

AhlulBayt (a_s_) World Assembly exhibition Islam Lights of Guidance propagation