Proceedings of the closing session of the conference on future prospects for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

The closing session of the conference on future prospects for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them, in which 350 scientific figures from inside and outside Iraq attended. The session included

1- Speech of the Scientific Committee.

2- The speech of the conference sponsor, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, at the conference on future prospects for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them)

3- The final recommendations of the conference on future prospects for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

4- Honoring the participants

1- Speech of the Scientific Committee.

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

May peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family

God Almighty said in His decisive Noble Book:

His Eminence Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, sponsor of the conference (may God protect him)

Your Eminences, distinguished scholars, may God bless them, distinguished gentlemen and ladies,

May the peace, blessings, and mercy of God be upon you

We congratulate you on the blessed month of Rajab and the occasion of the birth of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali, the guardian of the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds (may the best prayers and peace be upon him).

This is a fragrant occasion on which the Enki Foundation for Studies and Research brought us together in this conference under the slogan (A Middle Nation) to discuss the future prospects of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

The most important thing that draws the attention of researchers, thinkers, and those concerned about followers in the world is that the school of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in recent decades is no longer just a doctrine that is the inheritor of the path of the prophets, may the best prayers and peace be upon them, or a human group that belongs to the school only, but rather it has turned into a phenomenon that has its own inputs and interactions.  It is affected by the environment surrounding it and influences it effectively, and others began to put it in their strategic calculations, and Shiism became an enlightening missionary thought, a school, and a human group that plays roles in shaping international strategy.

This conference attempted to establish an understanding of the location of this phenomenon and the extent of the interconnectedness between its components and to enhance its effectiveness to serve all of humanity and the entire Islamic nation, including the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), away from prejudices, tensions, and pressures of political agendas. This is on the one hand, and on the other hand, the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).  (peace be upon them) whose abilities have grown and their abilities have grown over recent decades, have become affected, negatively or positively, by global transformations at all levels, including political, cultural, economic, social and security, and they face many challenges in their present and future, including those that are internal and related to the societies to which they belong or from others to whom they belong.  He formed his own impressions and perceptions about them. In addition to that, the Ahl al-Bayt School possesses the rich storehouse of the heavenly message, and what was contained in the important historical journey of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

And their followers contribute effectively to building human civilization, the renaissance of the Islamic nation, and building and defending the homelands to which they belong.

What humanity has suffered from the scourges of wars and conflicts allows the Ahl al-Bayt school (peace be upon them) to present its effective recipe that promotes coexistence and the rejection of wars through a valuable concept of dealing and relations based on the principle of human brotherhood, as Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said.

This is what prompted those interested in this matter to resolve to explore the depths of responsibility, so efforts began several years ago that culminated in holding a research workshop in which specialists from Iraq and abroad participated, which reached results that were considered the beginning of the road map for that.

It was followed by an in-depth dialogue session by His Eminence Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim with Harvard University, which contributed greatly on the intellectual level and the mechanisms of practice for concepts and approaches to dialogue, acquaintance, cooperation, cognitive integration, and detailing of the concept of citizenship from the perspective of Imami thought.

Efforts continued until, in February 2022, the Foundation invited an elite group of thinkers from several countries and diverse intellectual walks to a three-day workshop that approved the holding of this conference after it was able to define the scientific objectives and themes and prepare an important database of thinkers and researchers from the five continents.  To involve them in the work of this conference.  The founding party and sponsor of all of this was His Eminence the Hujjat al-Islam and the Muslims, Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim, with what he represents as a natural extension of the path of the al-Hakim family in caring for the affairs of the school and its followers throughout the globe, led by the leader of the sect, the authority, Sayyed Mohsen al-Hakim (may God bless him and grant him peace), and his shadow over the Islamic nation, its issues, the children of the school, and its subjects.

This conference was held, which lasted for three consecutive days, and began by establishing an in-depth discussion, exchange, and integration of ideas and experiences by focusing on the main issues of the problem and with a forward-looking analytical approach that attempts to establish an understanding of the current position of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), the trends and paths of the future, and what should be done for this on the level of  International relations and citizenship, as well as important relevant cognitive concepts, emphasizing the centrality of the seminary and the leadership of the blessed religious authority, and discussing developing ways of cooperation.

The conference included six workshops that discussed in depth various aspects of the problem.

In addition, the conference sought, through the broader discussion sessions on the second day, to stimulate discussion among the elite, specialists, stakeholders, think tanks, and academic institutions to ensure the participation of everyone in crystallizing visions and ideas for the conference topic.  The participation of a leading group of scholars and distinguished scholars from the blessed seminary in all the workshops and seminars played a leading role in the desired success.

The distribution of the research workshops was as follows:

The first workshop: It dealt with the topic of the prospects for academic, humanitarian, charitable, cultural and media cooperation between elites and institutions and discussed ways to sustain and develop cooperation.

The second workshop: It included two sessions

The first: It was devoted to the topic of education in the areas of educational strategies, the study of current educational environments, the future of Imami knowledge, the prospects for the educational discourse of the Husseini pulpit, and studies of plans, curricula, educational methods, and educational outcomes.

The second session: was devoted to economic resources and wealth and how to direct them to serve the nations and the benefit of humanity

Third workshop: The first session was devoted to studying theories of governance and the historical and cultural dimensions of Imami thought in this field.

The second session was devoted to discussing governance and the state.

The fourth workshop: It was devoted to the concept of citizenship in Imami thought, Shiite national identity, and diaspora affairs.

The fifth workshop: It was specialized in studying the topic of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and international relations in terms of concept, intellectual rooting, and the horizons of the relationship with others in the East, West, and the Arab world.

The sixth workshop: It was concerned with affirming the commitment to the role of the religious authority, its pivotal and pioneering location, its internal and global role, as well as the religious schools and the seminary, their cognitive, educational and pioneering effects, and the necessity of being enlightened by the authority’s curricula and recommendations in dealing with international and local events.

The research was completed on the second day by holding two open discussion panels on the topics and outcomes of the research workshops, and then the required directions for the work of this conference were formulated.

Peace, mercy and blessings of God.

2- The speech of the conference sponsor, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen, Mr. Ammar al-Hakim, at the conference on future prospects for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them)

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and may God’s blessings and peace be upon our Master Muhammad, his good and pure family, and his chosen companions.

Your Eminence and Virtue...

Dear Sirs and Ladies..

May the peace, blessings, and mercy of God be upon you

َIt is a pleasure for this good elite of followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) from all over the globe to gather here in Iraq in light of the great transformation it has witnessed in the last two decades, and with what it represents from the heart of Shiite geography, and in the space of the birth of the Commander of the Faithful and the dragonfly of religion, Imam Ali.  Ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), to discuss the most important topics that concern the members of this righteous and authentic group, and to review them in a comprehensive, useful and responsible manner.

The nucleus of the group of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) of their Shiites, followers and lovers was established and emerged during the life of the Greatest Messenger (may God bless him and his family and grant them peace) from a group of believers, loyal and loyal people, which extended, nurtured and expanded to represent today one of the largest paths and original and active trends among the noble Islamic nation.  Numbers, awareness, presence and commitment.

The establishment of this righteous group during the time of the Messenger of God (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family) and at his honorable hands has important implications that must be carefully examined and contemplated on its consequences. The Seal of the Prophets (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family) was keen, with direct support from heaven, to accomplish the heavenly mission.  And to complete the journey to the fullest extent by appointing the faithful guardian of his message, law and method to create sufficient guarantees for the continuation of the religion and the final message, as a natural and true extension separate from the previous messages, because it is not possible for a new message to appear by virtue of the finality of the message and its final prophet.

And dedicating this content among the nation through a group that is conscious and aware of the seriousness of this matter and its importance in order to bear responsibility, rally around that guardianship, commit to it, follow it, and be prepared to make great sacrifices for the goals and purposes set for it.

This matter was clearly demonstrated in the biography and path of the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), who were the people most keen on Islam, its principles, heritage, and law, and on the Islamic nation of all its types and the requirements of its unity and cohesion throughout its extended history.

Although the infallibles (peace be upon them) lived in very different circumstances and were subjected to enormous pressures, they did not collapse in the face of them. They had great opportunities and their established path did not change. They maintained authenticity and holiness at the level of internal structure, and great flexibility in maintaining a positive relationship with others.

َ
The philosophy of Shiism is based on good adherence to this ancient prophetic school and the approach of the pure family and the honorable Alawite dynasty, which is summed up in (creating a good Islamic model in the nation). The narrations of the People of the House (peace be upon them) have been abundant and extensive when describing the Shiite individual and the group that bears the title (Shiites).  The list goes on and on...

From them (peace be upon them) and with similar contents, the following is mentioned:

(Our Shiites are those who know God, do God’s command, people of virtue, and speak the truth..)

(Fear God, and be beautiful to us and do not be evil to us. Bring to us all affection, and repel from us all evil.)

(There is not one of our Shiites who is in Egypt, has thousands of people, and is more pious than him in Egypt.)

(O Shiites, O Shiites of the family of Muhammad, be the middle group. The dear will return to you, and the next will join you.)

The middle group means those who adhere to the straight path free from excess and negligence and from exaggeration and shortcomings.

If these and other attributes indicate anything, they indicate three important things:

First: The necessity of adhering to authentic Islam and its natural extensions.

Second: The necessity of building a good community and a good example among the nation.

Third: It is necessary for this group to be a “central nation” that unites the ranks of the nation and does not divide it, integrates with it and does not isolate itself from it, and spreads compassion, moderation, and love among it and throughout the world, away from hatred, fanaticism, extremism, fanaticism, and isolationism.

Hence, it was necessary for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) at every time and place to preserve their existence, their belief, and their middle way of speech and behavior, and in the acceptable rational, logical, and scientific movement.

The survival of the Shiite reality without a balanced project between principled authenticity and realistic flexibility will lead to dangerous deviations that lead to sharp divisions in the Shiite reality.  Due to the inclusion of large areas of the Shiite public under the banners of authenticity and principled slogans, and the inclusion of other parts under the banners of non-committal modernity that demands radical changes in the doctrinal, legislative and value-based principles of Islam,

Both opposing sides will feed on the mistakes that the other makes and use them as a justification for further extremism and deepening the schism in the Shiite societal reality. It is no secret that preserving the general unity of the Shiite ranks is one of the most important reasons for the strength of the Shiites, and at the forefront of what the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) emphasized.

This conference is only one of the windows of this aspiration, to review this experience and try to find cognitive outcomes that enable them to adapt to the requirements of the times, especially since we are going through a delicate stage that carries many features that must be paid attention to, the most prominent of which are the following:

First: The transition of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) group, especially the Twelver Shiites, from being a numerical and geographical minority historically to large and influential areas spread throughout the globe in our current era, which requires reorganizing efforts to introduce this presence, its importance, its features, and the sources of its effectiveness in a way that suits its role and goals.

Second: The group of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) was limited in its features to the ancient seminaries and the most honored religious authority, and they bore the burdens of preserving the group and its historical cohesion and worked to show the features of the experience and the characteristics of the followers to the surroundings and the world, which is something that must be preserved as it was.  In addition, in our current era, great opportunities have emerged with the emergence of many layers of Shiite personalities and believing elites in various scientific, cultural, economic and political fields at the local, regional and global levels, which requires a different approach to developments and changes.

Third: Scientific, media and technological developments and changes have made our world a small village in which everyone looks up to each other and everyone anticipates their intellectual, cultural and civilizational treasure that can make our world better, more interconnected and more understanding. This matter has provided tremendous opportunities to introduce the school of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), its principles and its cultural and intellectual treasure.  and the spiritual to the world as an active partner, not as a mystical, isolated, and dispersed group.

Fourth: Political variables at the level of modern systems, constitutions and laws that govern the countries of the world on the basis of new concepts and new rights and duties have become more mature and organized than before, which requires going beyond traditional contexts and benefiting from elements of realistic flexibility to adapt understanding and mutual interests to reach a continuous integration that preserves the principles of  On the one hand, and the multi-component reality and its requirements for coexistence and respect for privacy on the other hand, through commitment to the diligent project of religious authority that preserves authenticity and sobriety and transcends stagnation or fusion in the other alike.

 This allows the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) to demonstrate their intellectual and value stock towards national concepts, most notably citizenship, management of diversity, state building, adherence to the law, preservation of human rights and the environment, and other concepts, and to contribute to finding solutions to thorny intellectual crises in human society.

Based on our reading of the facts referred to above, we began to propose and crystallize (a general Shiite project) available to all followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) to participate in and mature under the title (Shiite patriotism), basing this on a long history of positions, ideas, and instructions issued by the Prophet (peace be upon them).  May God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family) and the pure Imams (peace be upon them), passing through the movement of jurists throughout history after the Great Occultation, all the way to the Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf School as the central and original axis of this project. We presented its general features, and we invited the elites and Shiite figures, first and foremost, your honor, to participate in its maturation and crystallization.  .

The Shiite nationalism that we propose is based on three facts from which other matters branch:

First: The followers of the Ahl al-Bayt school (peace be upon them) in terms of doctrine, law, and rituals are represented by one cohesive identity that follows a unified approach in its sectarian movement, even if it varies in its ritual methods and religious references, but it follows the same general framework in which it believes and adheres to its edges, which transcends borders and restrictions.

The Shiite Muslim’s belief in monotheism, justice, prophethood, imamate, and resurrection, and his commitment to Sharia and rituals cannot be determined by specific geographical borders. It is something that every Shiite shares, regardless of his national identity, linguistic culture, or race.

Second: The followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) are united in terms of belief, but they are distributed among existing states and homelands that are governed by their own social and political contracts, according to their national identity, their states, and their societies in an authentic and permanent historical line, and this matter requires them to (integrate into their societies and consolidate their national identity,  And adherence to their laws) and this is what the Ahl al-Bayt school (peace be upon them) called for through the commandments of the pure Imams (peace be upon them). The jurists focused on them and the supreme authority clearly confirmed them in their wise recommendations and guidance.

َThe Iraqi Shiite, for example, has national, societal, legal, cultural, and customary characteristics and characteristics that are different from the Iranian, Lebanese, Saudi, Pakistani, Indian, Afghan, or any other Arab, Islamic, or international Shiite. These characteristics are not artificial, but rather stem from the depth of this Shiite’s affiliation to his homeland and society.  His state is historically, emotionally, and contractually (such as rights and duties), and this matter cannot be cross-border, meaning that he cannot be an Iraqi Shiite and at the same time belong to another country with different traits and characteristics, or apply the laws of another country, or import a different culture into his society contrary to their desire.

The patriotism of the Shiites is real, and their belonging to the homeland, society, and state is realistic, and it is not, as some say, that citizenship has no place in religious thought, or that citizenship is merely a cover under which the Shiite hides in order to obtain gains and rights without dictating duties and obligations to him.

We must avoid any contradiction between the requirements of religious affiliation and belonging to the homeland, which results from the intersection of feelings, activities and positions, or the imposed and contrived negative intersections that have been imposed on the Shiite community.

Here we are faced with three general cases:

A - That the Shiites be in the majority in a country, and this requires their full attention to the rights of all their partners and other components in their country, and creating an equal environment for rights and duties.

B - That the Shiites are a minority in a country, and this requires creating an appropriate environment for their integration with their other partners and active and realistic participation in the issues of their homeland, in a manner consistent with their sectarian specificity.

C - That they be a minority in non-Islamic countries, as in the West and elsewhere, and here requires research on how they can integrate legally and legally in those countries while preserving their privacy and identity and being recognized by the majority in those countries.

Third: The followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in every country are distributed among various individuals, organizations, institutions, and intellectual sects and trends.

There is the liberal Shiite, the Islamic Shiite, the academic Shiite, the partisan Shiite, the independent Shiite, and so on, the intellectual and cultural walks are diverse.

This matter should be studied as an individual right for every Shiite in his country.

The conclusion is that the Shiites are united in faith, spread across the frameworks of states and societies, and respected in their individual, intellectual, cultural and political commitments.

This makes the paths clearer among them, more understanding and appreciation than others, and removes from them the false suspicions that cast doubt on them, their affiliations, and their national positions.

What we are putting forward is an idea that requires more maturity and organization, but its basis is our belief in the necessity of benefiting from the depth of the “Thaqalayn” and solid jurisprudential diligence that makes the transition from traditional templates to modern frameworks and allows everyone greater flexibility in movement, discourse, and effectiveness, committed to identity, preserving true Shiism, and capable of unifying society.  The Shiite and his credibility in adhering to the ancient jurisprudential approach represented by the religious authority that includes the conditions of imitation.

The stagnation in the movement and circumstances of the past, neutrality towards the present, and lack of planning for the future are all obstructing factors that are not compatible with our Shiite intellectual storehouse that is capable of renewal while preserving the originality, doctrine, and general lines of the Ahlul Bayt group (peace be upon them).

I call for a re-reading of the experience of Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf and the supreme religious authority with all its details and its rich intellectual and cultural contributions that have become observed and witnessed by the world.

This is the basic building block from which we can move toward our surroundings and toward the world in a modern, flexible language that is understood, accepted, and respected by everyone. The followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) carry the banner of the Muhammadan message and the responsibility of showing the landmarks, deeds, and fruits of this school to the entire world, so that they can be an active, participating, and influential part.  In our broader human civilization.

َ3- The final recommendations of the conference (Future Prospects for the Followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them)).

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

With God Almighty’s guidance and success, the first conference for (Future Prospects for the Followers of the People of the House (peace be upon them)) was held in Baghdad for the period from (2 to 4 February 2023) under the slogan (A Middle Nation) under the patronage of His Eminence Hujjat al-Islam and the Muslims, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim (may God protect him).

As the conference extends its congratulations to all the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) on the anniversary of the birth of the first Imam, the guardian of the Messenger of God, the Commander of the Faithful, Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be upon him), and after presenting research, holding workshops, and completing dialogues, and in keeping with the precise global realities and their requirements, the conference participants concluded with these recommendations.  :

First: The conference confirms the centrality of Iraq in its history, civilization, and potential, in the Islamic and humanitarian impact, as it is the cradle of prophecy, witness to the most important civilizations in history, and a symbol of an Islamic civilization that combined faith and Arabism with human and global cultures, to present a bright picture for hundreds of years, in addition to Iraq’s confrontation of the most powerful waves of terrorism with the lives of its people,  He supported his brothers and friends with the centrality of the religious authority and its direction of balanced jihadi action and growing civilizational action, being the legitimate extension of the thought of the People of the House (peace be upon them) and their living presence in conscience and life.

Second: The conference recommends working hard to confront the current internal and external challenges of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), adopting objective approaches, effective tools and vital experiences to address the problems that obstruct the path of the Islamic nation in general, and the Shiites in particular, and activating the constructive impact of its members in every social and political formation.  They belong to him.

Third: Emphasizing the importance of the unity of the nation and the role of the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) extending its humanitarian and cultural presence across the continents, adhering to its following of the pure Imams (peace be upon them) despite the multiplicity of ethnicities, backgrounds, and trends that they represent.

Fourth: The conference recommends strengthening the concepts of citizenship and the vital and effective integration of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in their homelands and countries and in the societal environments surrounding them, positively adapting to their legal systems, and preserving the specificity of their distinct religious, intellectual and cultural identity.

Fifth: The conference affirms the priority of consolidating communication and integration between the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) at all cultural, economic and societal levels, and doubling interest in developing integrated investment in all fields, especially in education, culture and institutionalizing humanitarian and charitable activities.

Sixth: The conference calls for activating all scientific and media efforts, to demonstrate the knowledge, value and moral stock of the Ahl al-Bayt School (peace be upon them), and to work to highlight a moderate, inclusive and responsible discourse, to present a qualitative human experience worthy of being followed.

Seventh: The conference recommends doubling the work to develop the relations of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) with the Islamic and human society, devoting commonalities with human spaces and various components, and activating responsible roles in resolving crises and producing solutions at the Islamic and international levels.

Eighth: The conference declares its principled support for the jihad of the oppressed peoples and their struggle to regain their rights, especially the Palestinian people who are struggling to achieve their freedom and independence and the removal of the occupation from their land and sanctities.

Ninth: The conference declares its full solidarity with the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in all countries of the world, who are experiencing real challenges and difficulties, and whose countries are experiencing well-known crises and challenges.

Tenth: The conference affirms that the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in the world are an essential part of the civilizational and human map, living with its concerns and challenges, and keen to have cultural contributions and real contributions to it, while maintaining their aspiration to realize hopes for comprehensive reform at the hands of their Imam.  The Awaited One (may God Almighty hasten his honorable appearance).

at the end ..

The participants in this unique conference express their pride in holding it in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, which represents the geographical, human and historical incubator of Shiism, and is proud to host the shrines of six of the twelve Imams (peace be upon them), the sons of the Imams and the great scholars of the Shiite nation (may God be pleased with them), the founders of the sciences.  Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), its schools, and its major authorities. It is the country whose capital includes the shrines of the four ambassadors of Imam al-Hujjah (may God Almighty hasten his honorable appearance), and it represents a source of cultural, scientific, and spiritual radiation with the presence of the supreme religious authority and the seminary of Najaf al-Ashraf in it.

The conference attendees and participants extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the sponsor of this (conference/project), His Eminence Mr. Ammar al-Hakim (may God bless him and support him), and to the Enki Foundation for Studies and Research and to everyone who made an effort in the preparatory work and organizational roles to host, hold, sponsor and make the conference a success, praying to God Almighty to grant  To Iraq and its people, and to the peoples who love goodness, with security, peace, and reassurance, with the blessings of the Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad, and his good and pure family.

Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, and may God’s blessings be upon the best of His creation, Muhammad, and upon his good and pure family.

Conference on future prospects for the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them)

The capital, Baghdad

(The twelfth of Rajab 1444 AH corresponding to February 3, 2023)

4- Honoring the participants

His Eminence Mr. Al-Hakim honors the professors and researchers participating in the conference, from different countries and continents.