It is said in that Qom is holding Shia Islam in the world because of its collections of books, manuscripts and scholarly presence over the centuries, writes M Hasan
The historical city of Qom in Iran, which could be rightly called “spiritual Oxford” for the seekers of knowledge, stands tall in Islamic world of learning and teaching. More than a dozen seminaries (Hawzat-Madarsa) form the most significant centers of theological, social and philosophical teachings in Shia world. Nearly four lakh students from all over the world are reportedly enrolled here in these seminaries to perfect themselves as “turbaned” ulema (clerics). There are several centres of learning for girls also.
It is said in that “Qom is holding Shia Islam in the world because of its collections of books and manuscripts and scholarly presence over the centuries.”
Historically, the Qom seminaries have produced legal and religious scholars (Marja- source of emulation) of considerable importance whose influence remains strong among their respective followers. These seminaries continue to serve as centres of mainstream jurisprudential (Usuli) thought for the global Shia community. The eminent scholar and Marja’at Taqlid Abd-al Karim Ha’iri Yazdi (died 1937) was the central figure among top Shia clerics in 20th century who was instrumental in establishing Qom as a centre of learning in 1920. He was also teacher and mentor of Ayatollah Saiyad Ruhollah Khomeini and younger niece of Ha’iri was married to the son of Khomeini. His son Mehdi Ha’iri was a philosopher and a jurist- a grand Ayatollah in his own right. Ayatollah Khomeini had taught Ayatollah Mehdi in Qom. The library and madarsa of Ayatollah Syed Mahmood Marashi Najfi is unparalleled store house of books and manuscripts.
The grand existence of historical Fayzia seminary in the complex of tomb of Masoomai Qom is testimony to the success story of Ayatollah Ha’iri Yazdi’s massive contribution to the Shia Islam. Its library with large numbers of manuscripts is sources of dissemination of knowledge to the scores of students. The success in revitalizing the institution had also facilitated in the transfers of large number of scholars from other seminaries to this center. I visited this seminary along with Maulana Syed Mohammad Hasan, who is studying at Ayatollah Khomeini madarsa for the last ten years.
The institutional authority of Qom was further strengthened with the powerful emergence of Ayatollah Borujerdi (died 1962) as sole Marja-at taqlid of Shiite world in the late 1940s after the death of Ayatollah Isfahani in 1946. The library and Hawzat of Ayatollah Borujerdi also in the complex of the Rauza is a major centre of imparting knowledge.
It may be mentioned that Tabbar in his book “Religious statecraft” and Najam Haider in “Shia Islam: An introduction” have written that “with Ayatollah Borujerdi’s ascendance to the position of marja’ at-taqlid, the Qom seminary entered a critical period in its development to become a political entity in its own right. We may thus define two periods in the ensuing history of the revived Qom seminary: one in which quietism generally prevailed, marked by the stewardship of Ayatollah Borujerdi; and one of increasing activism, which saw the activities of ‘ulema represented initially by Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleqani (d. 1979), Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari (d. 1986), and, eventually, Ayatollah Khomeini (d. 1989). Khomeini, in particular, served as the theological-political leader of the Qom seminary that played perhaps the most significant role in transforming the Iranian ‘ulema’s socio-political role from one of “influence from without” to a maximalist control of the system of government (wilayah)”.
With the Islamic Revolution of 1979 the Qom Seminaries strongly emerged to serve as the new regime’s ideological “crown jewel” with Ayatollah Khomeini as its Marja. From this point onward the Qom was given absolute authority over all other seminaries with Iran in serving as an official point of ideological emulation for Shia world. There is no doubt that Qom over the years has become centre of “exporting the revolution” throughout the Shiite world. Large number turbaned Ulema and students fan out regularly in several parts of the world to effectivly propagate Shia Islam. Hawzat buildings in Qom are wonderfully illuminating. (Next: Shiism minus Najaf- Iraq- is meaningless)
(M Hasan is former Chief of Bureau Hindustan Times, Lucknow, India)
