In the name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-Merciful.

With regards and heartfelt wishes for all the honorable scholars and teachers present in this sacred and heavenly gathering, along with gratification for the organizers of this great conference, I would like to speak a few words in the presence of all the honorable attendees:

          It must be said that no one possesses the capability to fully describe the unparallel personality and the unmatchable virtues of the Aalim (the learned one) of Prophet Mohammad‘s holy Progeny, his holiness Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Reza (peace be upon him).

With which words and statements can we speak about the majestic existence of this divine argument? He is indeed a great personality and among the greatest signs and arguments of Allah (s.w.t.). Capable scholars, renowned authors and geniuses of the world of knowledge and science, have written excessively about his distinguished personality and in spite of these speeches and writings, even today, the door of eloquent expressions, writings, compositions and orations regarding the attributes of his holiness, is wide open before the face of scholars. Whoever enters this vast orchard, will lay hands on a fresh fruit of excellence;

“A good word is like a good tree: its roots are steady and its branches are in the sky”.[1]

For the human societies, especially the religious ones, nothing can be more enlightening and constructive than awareness regarding the divine life and the school of thought of Allah’s Arguments and the religious leaders. We must introduce it as a great universal science which can truly guide the humanity towards sublime cognitions, illuminating thoughts and such pure behavior that is inclusive of all the physical and spiritual aspects of human life.

One of the greatest leaders of humanity, whose virtues and attributes have not only engulfed the entire Islamic world from East to West, but has also attracted the hearts of the devotees of other religions towards himself, is his holiness Imam Ali bin Musa Al-Reza (peace be upon him). He has a personality that caught the attention of great scholars and writers from different aspects; if someone wishes to speak on each one of the dimensions of his greatness, several hours and days are required to describe one single drop from the limitless ocean.

One of the significant dimensions of his holy existence is his distinguished divine knowledge, for which he has been given the title of the learned one from the holy progeny of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon them). His knowledge and awareness has left scholars and experts from different religions and various Islamic sects awestruck and astonished.  

Honorable Scholars and Experts!

For instance, if you study the details of Imam Reza’s journey towards Khorasan, you can clearly see how this divine argument has revived the religious beliefs and celestial teachings of Islam and therefore, he is known in history as the Reformist of the second century.

The era of Mamun marked the beginning of the awareness of Muslims regarding the philosophical terminologies and different school of thoughts and because of the translation of philosophical books into Arabic and the constant support of Mamun, there was an increase in the doubts and objections of people with reference to their religious beliefs. On the other hand, debates and arguments between Muslims and clerics of other religions also increased extensively and inter-religious argumentations became a trend. Imam Reza (peace be upon him), in order to safeguard the divine teachings and religious beliefs, and for answering all sorts of doubts and guiding the clerics, took many pain-staking steps and personally debated great scholars from different religions, giving them satisfactory responses. The details of these debate sessions and argumentations are registered in the books of history and narrations, which are presently reckoned as one of the most important scientific source for the art of argumentation and reasoning, and are always utilized by scholars.

Both the scholars and common people of that time presented all kinds of doubts regarding philosophical issues before his holiness, and received satisfactory answers in return. The senior Sunni clerics also have a sense of devotion and liking for his holiness and consider him as one of the greatest disciples of Prophet (p.b.u.h.), and have also penned several poetries praising his holiness. Clerics from other religions, upon studying the majestic personality of his holiness, found him to be a source of divine knowledge and heavenly teachings, and expressed utmost humility before him by praising him vehemently and they quenched the thirst of their souls with his incomparable teachings to every possible extent.

Nevertheless, such seminars and international conferences must be held in the scientific societies of the world, and researches must be done in order to teach and propagate the teachings of this divine argument through which the humanity can find the way of success and salvation.

I would like to conclude by confessing that the speech and writings of the likes of me are incapable of describing the different dimensions of our Imam’s majestic existence and we have no other way but to seek shelter in the shadow of his great threshold. I would like to thank the organizers and participants of this great international conference and request Allah (s.w.t.) to bless us the opportunity to acquire the enlightening teachings of Quran and the holy Progeny of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon them).

May Allah (s.w.t.) shower His mercy and blessings upon you.

21^st Jamadi Al-Awwal, 1440 Hijri.

Lotfullah Saafi.