Three Million Non-Iranian Visit Imam Reza (A.S.) Holy Shrine Yearly

Director of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi said, “Astan Quds Razavi is recognized today as a great cultural, scientific, and religious center and stands singular in the Islamic world for its numerous advantages.”

Hujjat al-Islam Ali Baqeri said, “Yearly, 3 million foreign pilgrims visit the Razavi holy shrine among which 13000 non-Muslim tourists make use of the spiritual space of the holy shrine, and management of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi has arranged special programs for this group of pilgrims.”

Noting that pilgrimage is a worshipping and constructive event that can be viewed from different perspectives, he added, “What happens each year in the Razavi holy shrine is display of unity and sympathy among Muslims.”

Promoting pilgrims’ cultural level, priority of Astan Quds Razavi

“Razavi holy shrine is a scientific basis that gives priority to promoting cultural levels of pilgrims through doing cultural works”, director of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi declared.
“There is a broad range of ideological and scientific support beyond the programs of the holy shrine respecting language and cultural background of foreign pilgrims”, he remarked.

“In management section, besides using foreign language experts, people take part in programs too and they hold religious rituals freely”, Baqeri asserted.

Referring to the vast activity range of management of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi covering the holy shrine domains, abroad, and cyber space, he added, “In the holy shrine a variety of programs including congregational prayers, stating religious injunctions, recitation of Qur’an and prayers, and cultural contests are held in the Dar al-Rahmah and Dar al-Marhamah porticos every day except for Fridays.”

Director of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi referred to circles of insight and general meetings in the shape of question and answer assemblies as other specific programs arranged for foreign pilgrims.

“Specialized meetings, training classes, answer to religious questions, and rendering service to non-Muslims are other programs to be mentioned”, he continued.

“Lectures, holding classes, tours of knowing the holy shrine, visitation of the museum and giving cultural gifts including Qur’an and religious books and CDs are other programs provided by this management for foreign pilgrims”, Baqeri reiterated.

“The meetings are held by a strong scientific support with respect to the current Islamic events including Islamic unity, familiarity with Takfiri groups and strategies of Jihadi management that were discussed in the current year”, he remarked.

Director of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi also said, “Answering the religious questions is a program for foreign pilgrims in the holy shrine where experts competent in different languages render service to the audiences in the Ghadir, Dar al-Rahmah, and Kowsar porticos of the holy shrine.”

Referring to presence of non-Muslim tourists in the holy shrine, he said, “This management offering precious programs for these tourists tries to provide the ground for more investigation for them giving answer to the religious, social, and political questions.”

8 individuals embraced Islam in the Razavi holy shrine

Noting that since the beginning of this year, eight people have converted to Islam, he asserted, “These people, mainly European converted to Islam after a lot of investigation and uttering Shahadatain.”
“Before converting, all their questions are usually answered by the experts”, Baqeri mentioned.

“In this relation, various books have been produced that are dedicated to them including the book Imam Reza (A.S.) from Sunnis’ point of view published in 7 languages and the book biography of Imam Reza (A.S.)”, he added.

Sending email to 30000 subscribers across 120 places and 80 countries

“Management of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi sends email to 30000 subscribers over 120 places and 80 countries of the world”, he reiterated.

“This management is active also in rendering service abroad and in the cyber space; it connects with pilgrims, figures, and cultural institutions and sends email and cultural items to them on various occasions”, director of Office of Non-Iranian Pilgrims’ Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi said.

“1500 institutions including mosques and cultural organizations, as well as religious and scientific figures benefit the cultural products and emotional connection provided by this management”, he added.
Specific chat rooms for subscribers

“Live broadcasting of ceremonies of the holy shrine and participation of professors in holy shrine internet chat rooms are provided for subscribers”, he added.

“Using modern media, chat rooms of the holy shrine enjoining special facilities try to offer different services to pilgrims in the best way”, Baqeri said.
/SR