In a meeting with participants in “The International Congress on the Role of the Shi'a School in the Emergence and Development of Islamic Sciences,” Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the most important needs of the world of Islam today are “unity and integrity” and “a serious bid for scientific progress in all sciences.” He stressed, “Today, an ‘awakening’ has taken hold in the world of Islam and despite Western efforts to deny it, this awakening paves the ground for greater proclivity toward Islam and heralds a better future.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution expressed gratitude to the organizers and directors of the congress, particularly Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, saying, “Today, any move that would result in greater acquaintance between Islamic groups and sects is a virtue and this gathering is one of the examples of moving toward [boosting] the unity of the Islamic community.”
Ayatollah Khamenei pointed to the long-standing effort of the enemies to pit Muslims against each other, adding, “In these conditions, any action leading to the familiarity of Muslims with each other’s strong points and paving the ground for their synergy will help the unity and integrity of the Islamic community.”
He pointed to the Shia role throughout history for the promotion of Islamic and natural sciences, reiterating, “These valuable works and services must be introduced to the Islamic community because they will be a source of honor and result in integrity.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed the need for taking serious care to prevent the emergence of any suspicion and gripe among Islamic cults, saying, “One of the most important and necessary requirements of the Muslim world today is the issue of scientific progress and a serious bid in this regard.”
Ayatollah Khamenei described scientific underdevelopment and underdevelopment as the main reason for the world of Islam falling under domination, adding, “After consecutive centuries of scientific retardation, the Western world succeeded in increasing its scientific, military, political and propaganda wealth and might by using the scientific advances of the Muslim world and ultimately, through colonialism, make the condition of the Muslim states as it is now.”
He pointed to Muslim countries being bullied by Western powers and the subservience of many of the rulers of these countries to these international bullies, stressing, “These conditions must change through the scientific progress of Muslim countries and the world of Islam can once more stand at the peak of human civilization.”
The Leader said moving toward scientific progress is the duty of Islamic governments and their elites, saying, “The elites of the world of Islam must launch a great ideological movement and a public demand for scientific progress and reaching the peak of science and knowledge.”
Ayatollah Khamenei described the advance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the path of scientific progress as a successful example, adding, “According to reports by global scientific centers, Iran’s scientific growth rate has in recent years been 13 times the global average.”
He reiterated, “We will continue this path until reaching the frontiers of science and knowledge, and contrary to Westerners, Iran is ready to share its scientific achievements and advances with other Muslim countries.”
The Leader described progress in Islamic and natural sciences as imperative, adding, “One of the cases where Islam can have ‘a new say’ in various issues of humanity is in the field of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) issues and greater and more serious work needs to be done in this regard.”
Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that science growth rate must increase in the field of philosophy and rational sciences, saying, “Westerners spread their philosophy to various areas of political and social issues and we should do the same as well because Islamic philosophy is more powerful, deeper-rooted and more solid than Western philosophy.”
He pointed to the spread of awakening in the world of Islam and the increase in attraction to Islam in the world, reiterating, “Today, youths across the world have a lot of questions whose answers they want to find in the framework of Islam; therefore, scientific movement must speed up in the world of Islam and the Islamic community once again reach the summit of its scientific and civilizational might, so that the enemies of Islam and the Americans would not be able to give orders to the heads of Muslim states and dictate ‘dos and don’ts’.”
Prior to the remarks of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Hojatoleslam Alireza Erafi, the head of the policymaking council for the “International Congress on the Role of the Shi'a School in the Emergence and Development of Islamic Sciences” said, “‘Resolving suspicions,’ ‘deepening understanding among Islamic faiths,’ ‘recognition of the ideological assets of Shias and Muslims’ and ‘identifying strong points for the completion and offering of Islamic sciences’ have been among the goals of the congress.
Furthermore, Hojatoleslam Dr. Ali Rezaee, the secretary of the congress, provided a report on the goals and agenda of the congress.