Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and his accompanying delegation visited the University of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) in the city of Karbala, Iraq.
In a meeting with the officials of the University, Ayatollah Ramazani said, “Compared to the many universities that I have visited, the characteristic of the University of AhlulBayt (a.s.) in Karbala is that it is a scientific and revolutionary university, and it is engaged in educating the Iraqi youth. This is commendable, and in this regard, I congratulate the university officials.”
“Western thinkers have discussed the conflict between reason and religion at various times in history, believing that “The intellectuals of society do not turn to religion!” However, according to the hadiths, “One who does not have wisdom does not follow the religion.” Therefore, we need the interaction between wisdom and religion, and knowledge and religion,” he stated, regarding the background of the interaction between wisdom and religion.
“Today, Muslim scholars who teach at the Sorbonne or other Western universities are allowed to teach the history of Islamic sects but are not allowed to propagate the religion. If the officials of those universities feel that someone is trying to defend or propagate the religion, they will expel him. Therefore, religion has no place in Western universities and scientific fields. Thus, religion has often been marginalized, and some thought that religion could not play a role in the social sphere, and was limited to the individual sphere,” added the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
“Western scholars developed knowledge, saying that society is governed by knowledge and that religion cannot play a role in governing society. In this atmosphere, even western theorists believed that there would be no religious revolution in the world and revolutions would be secular. But Imam Khomeini said, “Religion has a plan in the field of governing society” and “this governing is also possible in the postmodern era”. Because some believe that “The age of modernity or postmodernism is the age of transition from religion in all areas”. But according to Imam Khomeini’s perspective, religion can play an active role in social and intellectual spheres at all times,” he continued.
“Such universities can train scholars who are committed to Islam. All professors can play the role of moral educators for students. Professors can be both teachers and moral educators, and the student must be morally educated by professors. We need committed scientific figures who are influential in the international arena,” said Ayatollah Ramazani, regarding the mission of AhlulBayt (a.s.) University of Karbala.
It should be mentioned that before the speech of the Secretary-General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, several officials of the University of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) of Karbala presented a report on various departments, activities, and graduates of the University, and emphasized further relations with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and the scientific centers of Iran.