Updated 29 September 2010

The Islamic Education team of The World Federation visited the holy city of Qum from 2 – 11 August 2010. During a hectic schedule the team was able to hold a number of meetings with Ulama and Hawza students, as well as addressing the functionality of the WF Qum Office.

Meetings with Maraje

The Team began their meetings with an audience granted by Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini at his office. Ayatullah Amini began by expressing his admiration for the Khoja community and their efforts in remaining attached to Islam and safeguarding their faith.

Ayatullah Amini stressed the importance for the Ulama of all levels to be aware of the community’s social problems as they would be able to offer better guidance to the community.

Islamic Education Team with Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini

The Team then met with Ayatullah Waheed Khorasani who also emphasised the importance of Ulama being aware of social situations and circumstances. He also stressed the importance of devoting time to complete the recitation of the Quran during the month of Ramadhan.

Another Marja who was able to grant the Team an audience was Ayatullah Ja’far Subhani. He expressed his willingness to receive questions on ideological matters and pledged his support to the Qum Office activities.

Ayatullah Ahmad Madadi gave the Team numerous audiences and advised the Team on a number of points. He remembered fondly his conversations with Marhum Mulla Asghar and has pledged his ongoing consultative support.

Sayyid Aliraza with Ayatullah Ahmad Madadi

Ayatullah Girami, another Marja in Qum, was very impressed with the briefing the Team provided him with regards to the Khoja community’s achievements and structures and prayed for the community’s success.

Senior Students & Scholars

The Team met with a number of Senior Students and Scholars. Overall it was impressive to note the extensive work being undertaken in the holy city of Qum by individuals that WF Islamic Education can utilise and share with the wider community, including:

Islamic Short Courses
Research and Publications
Arabic Language Courses
Journals and Islamic Literature
Input for Madaris

The Islamic Education Team with Dr Shomali

Sayyid Ali with Shaykh Hakim Ilahi

Madinah and Bab Summer Courses

The Team’s visit was timed to coincide with the Madinah and Bab Summer Courses for youths. This gave the Team the opportunity of collecting feedback from the students. A significant part of the feedback highlighted the need for a follow up to the Summer Courses for a slightly older age group.

WF Qum Office

The Team spent significant time with the Qum Office personnel and noted with admiration the positive contributions of the Office to the overall Tableegh agenda:

• Support to Students:

•  42 applications for entry into the Hawza have been successfully processed by the office since 2008
• Counselling services are offered to students and their families
• A community atmosphere has been established where regular commemorative and celebratory programmes are conducted
• The Office has established excellent opportunities for the dissemination of resources, for example discounted book fairs
• The Office runs an impressive book and AV library
• The Office manages a website dedicated to information on studying in Qum
• The Office holds weekly gatherings for French speaking students
• The Office coordinates housing schemes for accommodation support to students
• o The Office manages the student monthly stipends and book allowances (shahriyya)

• Support to Jamaats:

• Many jamaats have been provided with short and long term alims for religious services, e.g. in Muharram and Ramadhan. A total of 32 such placements have been achieved, especially to non-English speaking jamaats

• Support to wider Community:

• The Office is a recognised hub of activity and regularly receives dignitaries and community visitors
• The Office conducts regular visits to Maraje to inform them of the community projects
• The Office hosts the Madinah and Bab Summer Courses for youths

• Support to other Tableegh ventures:

•  Qum Office programmes are recorded and provided to a number of the TV channels based in Iran

Going Forward

Islamic Education has outlined a number of areas where it can contribute to the community’s Tableegh and Islamic Education needs, including:

1. A course for married couples in the holy city of Qum, tentatively planned for December 2010

2. Provision of Muballigheen to Jamaats

3. Working with the office of Ayatullah Sistani to provide timely responses to community Fiqh questions

4. Increasing interaction with Maraje

5. A dedicated portal devoted to Islamic Education

6. A Madinah and Bab equivalent for French speaking communities

7. Publication of Sacred Effusion volume 2

8. Using the expertise in Qum for CPD courses

Sayyid Ali Naqvi commented, “The time spent in Qum gave me a real insight into the immense potential the Hawza has to offer. Our Office is performing well and we look forward to an even greater level of output in the months to come. There are many worthwhile projects underway and our task will be to ensure that our community benefits from these projects in the best way possible. I again pray for tawfeeq in this mission and I request the community’s support in both human and financial resources to make this a reality.”

To contribute towards Qum Office click here

For more information email islamiceducation@world-federation.org