Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - May 30, 2001 - Continuation of Hashemi's Trip in Qom and Visits to Holy Sites

Continuation of Hashemi's Trip in Qom and Visits to Holy Sites

Complete Diary Entry:

Early in the morning, we took a walk around a large pool and, after breakfast, headed towards the city of Qom. In the Zainabilabad area, we visited the buildings under construction at Al-Zahra University. Mr. Mohammad Reza Tabatabai, the director of the university, explained that they have purchased 45 hectares of land; part of it has been allocated to the Ministry of Intelligence, part to the municipality of Qom for park development, while another section has been reserved for green space. The remaining area will host educational buildings and dormitories, with around 700 rooms in two large four-story dormitories. I toured the dormitories and then attended the graduation ceremony at the current university mosque. After the report and welcoming remarks, I delivered a speech on the needs of the Islamic government, the responsibilities of religious seminaries, and the strengthening of the system; the program was quite enjoyable.

We visited the shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh (S) and the graves of Hajiyeh Valeh (Mahbibi Safarian) and Haji Abou (Mirza Ali Hashemi). Along the way, Governor Ghorbanali Saadat provided explanations, and at the shrine, Mr. Ali Akbar Masoudi Khomini, the custodian of Hazrat Masoumeh's shrine, requested assistance for the repair of the gold covering of the dome. We returned to the village of Vosef, where a group of researchers from the Islamic Propagation Office in Qom had gathered. We held discussions and, after lunch, took a short rest.

In the afternoon, I had discussions with a large group of researchers from the Quranic Culture and Knowledge group at the Islamic Propagation Office. Various sections presented their programs, which lasted for two to three hours. I also shared some of my thoughts. Earlier, Mr. Seyyed Javad Shahrastani, the son-in-law of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani and his representative, came with several Arab and Iraqi colleagues and discussed examples of educational, cultural, and service activities, including financial support for students, establishing a library, building residential houses for students, and setting up internet halls.

In the evening, we had discussions with researchers from the Tafsir Rahnama and Quran Culture series, and the encyclopedia of the Quran and the life of the Imams, from which my notes are utilized. They informed me that the Tafsir Rahnama project has been completed and that four volumes of the Quran culture are nearly ready. I also raised some observations during the discussion. Late at night, I read the news on the computer.