The first URD (University of Religions and Denominations)-held international short-term course on Shiite studies ended successfully, having achieved its prospected purposes, according to Mr. Salehi, deputy for International Academic Cooperation, in an interview with English News Room of the university.
Hoping it to be just a beginning for more successful experiences, Salehi also added that the course was warmly welcomed by a satisfying number of university professors, researchers and students from all over the world including U.S, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Lebanon to name a few, most of which being to Iran for the first time. Salehi also expressed that the topic of this program was to focus on Twelver Shi’ism however, participants also learnt about other main branches of Shi’ism.
As to the material of the course he also said that the applicants were taught on subjects such as: history and origins, movements, rituals, methodology, futurology, thought sources, Ijtihad (religious authority), doctrines and principles of common beliefs like Tawhid (monotheism), Prophecy, Ma'aad (hereafter), and specific beliefs such as Imamate and Adl (Justice), as well as the doctrine of the Awaited Mahdi and political thought of Shiism during their tightly scheduled six-day program.
"The course was not merely an educational one" Salehi continued" and we also supplied our guests for their extracurricular with an awesome tour of acquaintance around Iran including our worldly popular cities of Tehran and Isfahan in addition to visiting some historical sights of Qom, the hosting city. Wishing more extensive similar programs in the coming years at URD, Salehi finally mentioned that all participants were granted a scientific certificate of the course.
In this workshop, Dr Sadegh Haghighat spoke about Shii political Thought on 9th March 2015:
Aims of the course
A Classification of Shii Political Thought
Main Islamic issues according to different readings
Definitions
A Typology of Shii Thought
Political Islam and Non-political Islam
A Typology of Shii Political Thought
Shiism and Secularism
Imam khomeini & Wilayat al-Faqih
Faqih’s Authority
Shiism, Democracy & Human Rights