
The Qom Seminary (') is the largest and one of the foremost
Shia
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
hawza
A hawza () or ḥawzah ʿilmīyah () is the collective term (plural hawzat) for a ''madrasa'' (i.e. seminary) where Marja', Shi'a Muslim scholars are educated.
The word ''ḥawzah'' is Arabic, and has been adopted into Persian as a loan word. ...
s (Islamic seminaries), located in the city of
Qom, Iran. It is the largest seminary in Iran, established in 1922 by
Grand Ayatollah
Marja (; plural ''marājiʿ''; ) is a title given to the highest level of Twelver Shia religious cleric, with the authority given by a hawzah (a seminary where Shi'a Muslim scholars are educated) to make legal decisions within the confines of Sh ...
Abdul-Karim Haeri Yazdi in
Qom to train
Usuli
Usulism () is the majority school of Twelver Shia Islam in opposition to the minority Akhbarism. The Usulis favor the use of (reasoning) in the creation of new rules of jurisprudence; in assessing hadith to exclude traditions they believe u ...
scholars. The Hawza is composed of several structured institutions and systems developed to govern itself. Its curriculum includes
Arabic grammar
Arabic grammar () is the grammar of the Arabic language. Arabic is a Semitic languages, Semitic language and its grammar has many similarities with the Semitic languages#Grammar, grammar of other Semitic languages. Classical Arabic and Modern St ...
, rhetoric,
Qur'anic sciences,
theology
Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...
, and traditional sciences.
Along with
Kufa
Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000.
Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...
and
Baghdad
Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
, the Qom hadith school is among the three earliest centers of hadith transmission in Shia intellectual history.
The seminary's history dates back to the founding of Shia Qom, when the Ash'ari family—a Shia clan—migrated from
Kufa
Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000.
Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...
to Qom and contributed to the development of the city. Once they gained control over Qom, the propagation of Shiism and teaching of
hadith
Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
and the
Qur'an
The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...
began. This continued with the arrival of agents and descendants of the
Imams
Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, and provide relig ...
of Shia Islam, who played a substantial role in establishing and expanding the seminary.
Its influence waned under
Sunni
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
reign during the rise of the
Seljuk dynasty
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; , ''Saljuqian'',) alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that gradually became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture.
The founder of t ...
, and was further diminished during the
Mongol invasion
The Mongol invasions and conquests took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, creating history's largest contiguous empire, the Mongol Empire (1206–1368), which by 1260 covered large parts of Eurasia. Historians regard the Mongol devastati ...
of Qom. During the
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
, it likely regained notability along with the seminaries of
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
and
Qazvin
Qazvin (; ; ) is a city in the Central District (Qazvin County), Central District of Qazvin County, Qazvin province, Qazvin province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the largest city in the provi ...
. Among its faculty in this era were scholars such as
Sheikh Baha'i and
Mulla Sadra
Ṣadr ad-Dīn Muḥammad Shīrāzī, more commonly known as Mullā Ṣadrā (; ; c. 1571/2 – c. 1635/40 CE / 980 – 1050 AH), was a Persians, Persian Twelver Shi'a, Shi'i Islamic philosophy, Islamic mystic, philosopher, Kalam, theologian, a ...
. In the
Qajar period, the establishment of major schools like
Feyziyeh School in Qom further strengthened the seminary.
Eventually, with renewed efforts to revitalize the seminary in the
Qajar era, Yazdi migrated to Qom and founded the modern seminary. It became the most active seminary in the history of Shia Islam in Qom, later becoming a primary center of Shia scholarship in the
Islamic world
The terms Islamic world and Muslim world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs, politics, and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is ...
. After Yazdi, three of his students, followed by
Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi, led the seminary.
History
The city of Qom was conquered by Muslims between 643–644 CE, during the final year of the life of
Umar ibn al-Khattab
Umar ibn al-Khattab (; ), also spelled Omar, was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muh ...
. Between 670–719 CE, conditions emerged for the foundation of Shia Qom. The
Twelve Imams
The Twelve Imams (, '; , ') are the spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Twelver branch of Shia Islam, including that of the Alawite and Alevi.
According to Twelver theology, the Twelve Imams are exemp ...
spoke of a flourishing religious center in Qom.
Ja'far al-Sadiq
Ja'far al-Sadiq (; –765) was a Muslim hadith transmitter and the last agreed-upon Shia Imam between the Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq ("The Truthful"), Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Isla ...
is reported to have said: "Soon
Kufa
Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000.
Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...
will be empty of believers, and knowledge will be withdrawn like a serpent withdrawing into its lair, and it will reappear in a city called Qom, which will become the center of knowledge and virtue..." Qom came to be known as the "nest of the
Ahl al-Bayt
() refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Sunni Islam, the term has also been extended to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. In Shia Islam, the term is limited to Muhammad, his daugh ...
." The presence of numerous
Sayyids and
Alids
The Alids are those who claim descent from Ali ibn Abi Talib (; 600–661 CE), the fourth Rashidun caliph () and the first imam in Shia Islam. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The main branches are th ...
helped expand the seminary, as did the
Shrine of Fatima Masumeh, which became a frequented site for
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
.
Background
'
Hawza
A hawza () or ḥawzah ʿilmīyah () is the collective term (plural hawzat) for a ''madrasa'' (i.e. seminary) where Marja', Shi'a Muslim scholars are educated.
The word ''ḥawzah'' is Arabic, and has been adopted into Persian as a loan word. ...
' is a modern term for the organized institutions and centers of Shia Islamic education. Educational institutions in
Twelver Shia Islam began during the time of the
Twelve Imams
The Twelve Imams (, '; , ') are the spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Twelver branch of Shia Islam, including that of the Alawite and Alevi.
According to Twelver theology, the Twelve Imams are exemp ...
, who held classes and transmitted knowledge rooted in the Qur'an and the Prophet's tradition. These teachings were compiled in works later known as ''
Usul'' and taught in various Shia cities. Due to its distance from Sunni centers like
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
and Baghdad, and its proximity to the Shia hub of Karaj Abū Dulaf, Qom became a conducive environment for Shia scholarship. Shiites from Kufa brought knowledge here, including Ibrahim ibn Hashim Kufi—the first to bring hadiths of Kufic scholars to Qom.
Abbas Feyz notes that during the uprising of
Abu Muslim Khorasani, Qom became a stronghold of Twelver Shiism, and the first formal Twelver school was opened there by Ash'ari Arabs. Scholars of the
Daylamites emerged from this school—one of whom became a tutor to the Abbasid caliph
al-Mutawakkil
Ja'far ibn al-Mu'tasim, Muḥammad ibn Harun al-Rashid, Hārūn al-Mutawakkil ʿalā Allāh (); March 82211 December 861, commonly known by his laqab, regnal name al-Mutawwakil ala Allah (), was the tenth Abbasid Caliphate, Abbasid caliph, rul ...
’s children, and reportedly killed one of them after an insult made in reference to
Fatima
Fatima bint Muhammad (; 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fatima al-Zahra' (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, the fourth of the Rashidun caliphs and the first Shia imam. ...
.
Hadith study increased in practice in Qom during the 8th–11th centuries CE. As hadiths were being transmitted in Kufa and Medina, they were also compiled and refined in Qom. Scholars like Ibrahim ibn Hashim and Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Barqi led this process. Over 80% of the sources in ''Al-Kafi'' by al-Kulayni are Qomi, with many from Ibrahim ibn Hashim.
Ibn Babawayh, a recognized figure of this tradition, authored many works in hadith, jurisprudence, and theology based on narrations.
Seljuk Era
Qom was a hub for Shia jurisprudence during the
Seljuk dynasty
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; , ''Saljuqian'',) alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that gradually became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture.
The founder of t ...
, attracting students and hosting numerous seminaries. Scholar Abd al-Jalil Qazvini Razi described Qom in the 6th century: "Qom’s religious schools had sufficient resources, scholars, teachers, and interpreters, and libraries filled with books from various sects. Schools such as Sa’d Salat, Athir al-Mulk, Zayn al-Din, and Zahir al-Din were thriving."
Safavid Era
The
Safavid Empire
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
offered substantial support to Shia scholars and the Twelver Shi‘i school, particularly in
Qazvin
Qazvin (; ; ) is a city in the Central District (Qazvin County), Central District of Qazvin County, Qazvin province, Qazvin province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the largest city in the provi ...
and Isfahan. Throughout the Safavid dynasty, Shia scholars frequently stayed in Qom to engage in teaching. The most established figures who taught in Qom during this period include
Baha' al-Din al-‘Amili (Sheikh Baha’i),
Sadr al-Din Shirazi (Mulla Sadra),
Mulla Mohsen Fayz Kashani, and ‘
Abd al-Razzaq Lahiji.
Qajar and Pahlavi Eras
During the
Qajar period and the 20th century, numerous Shia scholars were present in the Qom seminary. Two major seminaries, Dar al-Shifa and Faydiyya, were established during the Qajar period.
Founding of the Qom Seminary
‘Abd al-Karim Ha’eri Yazdi, one of the leading Shia
marāji‘ of his time, after completing his studies and teaching in Najaf and
Karbala
Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...
, returned to the city of
Arak and established a seminary there. Ha’eri, simultaneously serving as marja‘, administrator, and teacher, came to be known as Āyatollah al-Mu’assis ("The Founder Ayatollah"). His primary role was managing the newly formed seminary. His vision included reforms in educational methodology, specialization in jurisprudential branches, broader student knowledge, and teaching foreign languages. To preserve the seminary, Ha’eri deliberately avoided political confrontation with
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980) was the last List of monarchs of Iran, Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown by the ...
. In fifteen years of leadership, Ha’eri brought the Qom Seminary to scholarly productivity. During this time, the Pahlavi government passed a law requiring clerics to take standardized exams, which Ha’eri accepted on the condition that they be held in Qom under his supervision.
[Ra'is-Zadeh, 2004, "The World Encyclopedia of Islam", article: Ha’eri Yazdi, ‘Abd al-Karim]
Post-Founding Era
Under Burujardi's leadership, the number of students reached 50,000 during his tenure. This was the first time the Najaf Seminary received financial aid from Qom.
[Ha’eri, Rahayi, 2004, "The World Encyclopedia of Islam", article: Burujirdi, Haj Agha Husayn Tabataba'i] By the late 1940s and early 1950s, Qom attracted students from across Iran. In 1947 (1326 SH), the student population reached 2,000, growing to 5,000 by 1954 (1333 SH).
[Joodaki, 2004, "The World Encyclopedia of Islam", article: Qom Seminary Teachers' Society]
Burujardi also initiated international outreach by sending representatives to
Medina
Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...
,
Kuwait
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Kuwait ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
, the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, and
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
to monitor Muslim affairs. He attempted to establish centers abroad. His founding of Dar al-Taqrib in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
and securing recognition of the
Ja‘fari school as a legitimate Islamic
madhhab
A ''madhhab'' (, , pl. , ) refers to any school of thought within fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence. The major Sunni Islam, Sunni ''madhhab'' are Hanafi school, Hanafi, Maliki school, Maliki, Shafi'i school, Shafi'i and Hanbali school, Hanbali.
They ...
by
al-Azhar University
The Al-Azhar University ( ; , , ) is a public university in Cairo, Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo, it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic ...
were among his recognized achievements.
[Zaker, 2004, "The World Encyclopedia of Islam", article: Qom Seminary – Contemporary Period]
Iranian Revolution
Following the
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
, seminaries across Iran entered a new phase of political and economic growth, including Qom. Currently, over forty thousand students, Iranian and international, are enrolled in study and scholarship there. The seminary’s administrative structure, now equipped with modern technology, continues to develop and evolve.
Institutions
Distribution Office and Stipend Bureau
In earlier periods, individuals who were appointed by marājiʿ (sources of emulation) to distribute stipends among seminary students were known as ''muqassim''. These figures were typically selected from among trustworthy clerics. The ''muqassim'' was tasked with delivering the religious funds (wujūhāt) and stipends to various seminaries, and dividing them among students based on the stipend list maintained in the stipend office. The process of distribution often took several days, and therefore each seminary had a designated day for receiving stipends. During the leadership of Sheikh ʿ
Abdolkarim Haeri Yazdi, this role was held by Sayyid Hidāyatullāh ʿAqdāʾī and later by ʿAlī-Muḥammad Qummī and Muhammad Ṣadūqī Yazdī. In the tenure of
Ayatollah Husayn Burujardi, the office was overseen by Muḥammad-Ḥusayn Aḥsan.
Department for Conscripts' Affairs
Following the implementation of mandatory military service for seminary students, a dedicated department was established in the Qom seminary to manage these matters. During Ḥāʾerī's leadership, the responsibility for this department was assigned to ʿAbd al-Husayn Burujardi. In the time of Burujardi, Mujtabā ʿIrāqī was appointed to the role. In 1987 (1366 AH), following the establishment of the Seminary Management Council (Shūrā-ye Mudīriyyat-e Ḥawzah), this council assumed responsibility for managing conscription affairs.
Seminary Management Council
The first Seminary Management Council was formed after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, in the year 1980 (1359 AH), by order of
Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 or 24 September 19023 June 1989) was an Iranian revolutionary, politician, political theorist, and religious leader. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the main leader of the Iranian ...
in coordination with other marājiʿ. The affairs of the council were conducted through its Secretariat, which was organized into seven departments: the Academic Department, the Ethics and Spirituality Department, the Internal Management Department, the Department of Preaching and Missionaries, and the Statistics and Information Department. The appointment of the director of the Qom seminary falls under the council's purview, and today, most seminaries in Iran follow its policies and decisions.
The cities of
Mashhad
Mashhad ( ; ), historically also known as Mashad, Meshhed, or Meshed in English, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. ...
and
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
each maintain their own independent seminary councils.
Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom
The
Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom is a religious, cultural, political, and social institution founded in 1962 (1341 AH) with the goal of reforming and organizing the activities of the Qom seminary. As the seminary grew in population and complexity, a group of younger seminary instructors formed what was initially known as the “Teachers’ Board” (Hayʾat-e Mudarrisīn). They drafted proposals based on the seminary's needs and submitted them to Ayatollah Burujardi, who approved them but declined formal leadership. After Burūjirdī's death in 1961 (1340 AH), the institution was restructured with new members and a revised charter. The society continued its activities and became one of the centers of resistance during the 1979
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
. Shortly thereafter, it was officially registered in 1979 (1358 AH). According to its charter, its goals include reforming the seminary curriculum, revising textbooks, training students for missionary work abroad, establishing research centers, and improving student education.
Islamic Propagation Office
This institution was founded through the efforts of Muhammad Kāẓim Shariʿatmadārī. Its purpose was to train seminary students for religious outreach and missionary work in various regions. Established in 1965 (1344 AH), its curriculum included Islamic theology, the study of religions and sects, Qur’anic exegesis and memorization, jurisprudence and legal theory, hadith sciences, memorization of religious texts, Islamic history, knowledge of Islamic countries, Persian and Arabic literature, oratory and public speaking skills, and more.
Curriculum
Subjects
In the field of
jurisprudence
Jurisprudence, also known as theory of law or philosophy of law, is the examination in a general perspective of what law is and what it ought to be. It investigates issues such as the definition of law; legal validity; legal norms and values ...
, Qom-based hadith scholars authored numerous works. History, geography, biographies, and the science of narrator evaluation (ʿilm al-rijāl) were also regarded as important disciplines in the seminary.
Today, the main subjects taught at the Qom Seminary include jurisprudence (fiqh), principles of jurisprudence (uṣūl al-fiqh),
philosophy
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
,
theology
Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...
(kalām),
Qur'anic exegesis,
Qur'anic sciences,
Arabic literature
Arabic literature ( / ALA-LC: ''al-Adab al-‘Arabī'') is the writing, both as prose and poetry, produced by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is ''Adab (Islam), Adab'', which comes from a meaning of etiquett ...
, biographical evaluation (rijāl),
hadith studies
Hadith studies is the academic study of hadith, a literature typically thought in Islamic religion to be a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval of the Muhammad as transmitted through chains of narrators.
A major area of inter ...
(dirāyah), and
ethics
Ethics is the philosophy, philosophical study of Morality, moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates Normativity, normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches inclu ...
. Additionally, some subjects such as
mysticism
Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute (philosophy), Absolute, but may refer to any kind of Religious ecstasy, ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or Spirituality, spiritual meani ...
(irfan),
mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
, and
astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest includ ...
have also been part of the seminary curriculum.
During the 2008–2009 academic year, 587 course units were taught at the advanced levels of the Qom Seminary (i.e., levels seven through ten).
Method of Instruction
The method of instruction in all Shia seminaries has been largely uniform. In earlier times, students would attend lectures in person, where the instructor would recite hadiths either from memory or written texts. The students would then memorize or transcribe the hadiths. Occasionally, students would read a text or hadith aloud, and the instructor would confirm its authenticity. Once the student’s proficiency in understanding hadith was established, the teacher would grant them permission to transmit the narrations.
The history of student examinations in the Qom Seminary has seen ups and downs. Initially, exams were opposed on the grounds that the government’s motive was to identify talented students for recruitment into state institutions. However, Grand Ayatollahs Ḥāʾirī and Burūjirdī later accepted the practice. Nevertheless, some scholars in
Najaf
Najaf is the capital city of the Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people. It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam an ...
objected to student examinations and called for their abolition, leading Burūjirdī to cancel them in Qom. After his time, exams were reintroduced and have since become standard practice. Today, exams serve as a means to verify that students have completed their studies. Grand Ayatollah
Mohammad-Reza Golpayegani stated that taking an exam in a subsequent level is contingent upon passing the previous one. These exams have led to a structured ranking of levels and, consequently, a tiered system of stipends.
Academic Levels
The academic structure of contemporary seminaries is divided into three main levels and a fourth, advanced level. Each level is composed of several "bases" (bāya), each generally taking one year to complete:
* First Level: Includes Arabic literature and the book Sharḥ al-Lumʿa (Bases 1–6)
* Second Level: Covers jurisprudence and principles using the texts Makāsib al-Muḥarrama and Rasā'il (Bases 7–8)
* Third Level: Involves the two books Makāsib and Kifāya (Bases 9–10)
* Fourth Level: Advanced studies (dars-e khārij) in jurisprudence
These academic levels can be officially equated with standard educational degrees as follows:
* Completion of the first level: Equivalent to a
High school diploma
A high school diploma (sometimes referred to as a high school degree) is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary s ...
* Completion of the second level with a thesis: Equivalent to a
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
* Completion of the third level: Equivalent to a
Master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
* Completion of the fourth level (four years of dars-e khārij in jurisprudence and principles, including four exams and a research thesis): Equivalent to a
Doctorate
A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...
Notable teachers
Notable alumni
See also
*
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
*
Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom
*
Hawza Najaf
*
Marjaʿ
*
Lists of maraji
*
Isfahan Seminary
References
External links
Official website
{{Authority control
Islamic seminaries and theological colleges
Islam in Iran
Hawza
Buildings and structures in Qom
Education in Qom province
Single-gender schools
Islamic terminology
Islamic education in Iran
Islamic schools
Seminaries and theological colleges in Iran
Qom Seminary
Law schools in Iran
1922 establishments in Iran