Ayatollah Arafi Meets Afghan Scholars – Unity Does Not Mean Abandoning Beliefs

He praised the scholarly contributions of Afghan seminaries—especially the Fiqh Center of Ahl-al-Bayt in Kabul—and emphasized the importance of strengthening Iran–Afghanistan religious and academic ties.

Arafi highlighted the spiritual significance of the month of Sha’ban, describing the Sha‘baniyah Supplication and Sha‘bani Salawat as profound sources of monotheism, spiritual growth, and understanding of divine proximity.

He explained that these prayers form a “school of spiritual journeying” and reflect the unique depth of the Ahlulbayt tradition.
He stressed that the mission of Islamic seminaries is twofold:

1. Educating scholars for community leadership (mosques, preaching, religious guidance).
   Supporting elite students to reach high levels of Islamic scholarship.

Arafi described Afghanistan as a country with significant cultural and religious potential, noting the strong presence of Afghan scholars in various academic fields. He emphasized that Afghanistan has historically been a positive model of Shia–Sunni relations and that preserving unity is essential—while clarifying that unity does not mean abandoning one’s beliefs, but expressing them wisely and in accordance with scholarly guidance.
He also highlighted the exemplary roles of Lady Khadija, Lady Fatima, and Lady Zaynab as models of steadfastness during historical crises, urging scholars to remain resilient and wise in today’s challenges facing the Islamic world.
Arafi called for strengthening scientific foundations, comparative scholarship, and intellectual capacity among students, stressing that true power lies in knowledge. He encouraged Afghan scholars to maintain strong ties with Iran’s seminaries and to continue nurturing both religious commitment and academic excellence.