Rewritten Title: Scholars as Beacons: National Congress Champions “Pure Life” of Islamic Clergy as a Model for Society
In a significant address at the inaugural National Congress of the Pure Life of the World’s Islamic Scholars, held in Qom, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Sharifi, the head of Qom University, articulated a powerful vision for promoting the exemplary lifestyles of religious scholars as the most effective method of religious propagation and cultural resilience.
A Symbolic Step for a Long-Standing Mission
Sharifi acknowledged that extensive academic work on the concept of the “Pure Life” of scholars has been underway for years. He stated that the congress serves as a symbolic declaration that a body of seminarians is actively concerned with studying and promoting the lifestyle of Islamic scholars within society. “We must make it so that the people see the benevolence and piety of the scholars,” Sharifi emphasized. He argued that when values are realized in one’s lifestyle, it becomes the most potent form of religious and ethical advocacy.
Lifestyle: The Central Front in the Cultural Arena
The university head identified lifestyle as the primary battlefield in what he described as the “soft war” targeting Islamic societies. He contended that while adversaries have entered this arena with organized programs to erode values, Islamic communities have under-prioritized the cultivation of moral inclinations. This neglect, he suggested, has inadvertently paved the way for the attraction of Western lifestyles.
Sharifi credited the leadership of the Islamic Revolution with having raised the critical importance of this issue decades ago, noting it has been a subject of discussion ever since. He pointed out that Western societies have heavily invested in shaping lifestyles, a domain still relatively unfamiliar in its strategic depth within Islamic scholarly discourse.
Countering Adversarial Narratives with Authentic Models
The rector reported that adversaries have achieved a degree of success by promoting Western styles and mocking traditional values, aiming to dismantle religious beliefs. The most effective counter-strategy, he proposed, is education through authentic role models. “We must strive to introduce the practical conduct and life narratives of religious scholars to society,” Sharifi urged. “Human nature is inherently drawn towards goodness.”
He lamented that the crucial task of introducing these genuine role models from the conduct of the scholars had been neglected. The congress, therefore, was established to highlight this “Pure Life.”
Scholars as Multi-Dimensional Leaders
Sharifi elaborated on the multifaceted roles of religious scholars, describing them not merely as academics but as moral and spiritual mentors for society. He honored them as “cultural and promotional mujahideen” who sought to ethically refine the community. Furthermore, he highlighted their significant political and social activism, naming them as “the foremost political and social actors in confronting Western influences and the commanders in the defense of values.”
He concluded with a stark warning, stating that the failure to properly present these pure models has reached a point where Western narratives falsely portray Islam as a religion opposed to values. The promotion of the scholars’ “Pure Life” is thus framed as an essential corrective to this misrepresentation and a foundational element for civilization-building and individual moral development.