Mashhad, cultural capital of Islamic World

Naming Mashhad as the cultural capital of Islamic world gave a good chance to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

These days a great cultural event took place in the Islamic world. Mashhad in northeastern Iran, blessed by the holy shrine of the Prophet’s 8^th infallible Successor Imam Reza (PBUH), is the center of attention and love of millions of devotees of the holy Prophet and his infallible Ahl al-Bayt from across the world. This holy city was named as the cultural capital of the Islamic world for 2017 by ISESCO and the Islamic world was granted this grand honour.

ISESCO or the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a body affiliated to the Organization of the Islamic Conference and assumes the responsibility of choosing cultural capitals of the Islamic world. This organization was set up in 1979 with its headquarters in the city of Rabat, Morocco. The goal of forming this organization is to create solidarity among the Islamic Ummah through education, spread of science and technology in the Islamic states, establishment of cooperation among Muslim scholars, support for Muslim minorities in western and non-Muslim states and generally establishment of cooperation and scientific, educational and cultural exchanges among Muslims all over the world.

One of the domains that ISESCO has taken into consideration for strengthening the role of Islamic states with over 1.5 billion population is to draw up and implement the Islamic world’s cultural strategy to confront cultural criteria imposed by the unbridled globalization wave. In view of this, the plan of Islamic cultural capitals, with concentration on the Islamic Ummah’s legacy from various aspects, was raised. Thus, it was scheduled that in compliance with implementing the resolution of the member states’ cultural ministers of the third Islamic Conference in 2001 in Doha, the holy Mecca was chosen as the first Islamic cultural capital for the year 2005 and the duty of choosing the Islamic cultural capital in the following years was ceded to ISESCO.

Selection of Mashhad as the cultural capital of the Islamic world indicates certain characteristics which gives a unique opportunity to the Islamic world. For centuries the holy city of Mashhad has been the land of great religious, literary and political figures such as the great poet Ferdowsi, scholars Sheikh Bahaee and Sheikh Tousi, and the statesman Nezam ul- Mulk. Throughout history it has been considered the place of clash of different ideas and a link between local and cultural groups.

The inaugural ceremony of this cultural event was held on January 24, 2017 with the recitation of the holy Quran and special short ziarah or standard form of salutation of Imam Reza at one of the halls of the holy mausoleum.

In addition to officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran, over 250 cultural and political dignitaries from 51 countries including ISESCO deputy director general Dr. Amina Al Hajri attended the ceremony. During the inaugural ceremony of this great event, the governor of Khorasan Razavi Province welcomed all ambassadors, cultural attaches and representatives of foreign countries, scholars of Islamic states and the attendees, saying, “Enjoying capabilities and capacities such as great seminaries, universities and equipped research centers, Mashhad can assume a basic role in the future of the Islamic world. Today Mashhad can convey the voice of unity, solidarity, peace, sincerity and brotherhood from its high finials to the world.” He added, “As the largest religious city of the Islamic world it plays a fundamental role in the plan of modern Islamic civilization and can be considered as the center of cultural and intellectual communications in the region.”

ISESCO deputy director general, Dr. Amina Al Hajri, regarding the admirable look of the Islamic world to Mashhad, said, “Mashhad has always had unique influence and role in the progress of human culture and this role has increased its status.” Pointing to over 20 million pilgrims and tourists who travel to this city every year, Dr. Al Hajri added, “Mashhad’s attraction for Muslims is due to the spiritual atmosphere of the tomb of Imam Reza (PBUH). The cultural diversity and power of this city during the rule of Islamic governments and the living of religious and ethnic minorities beside each other has preserved the power of this country and led to considerable progresses in culture. Mashhad can conquer the peaks of cultural innovation.” Elsewhere in her speech, pointing to the criteria for naming the cultural capital of the Islamic world, ISESCO’s deputy director general said, “This organization has strict criteria and Mashhad became eligible for election. Documented historical and cultural authenticity, assistance to promote human knowledge and culture, existence of historical memorials, and active cultural institutions are among the criteria for choosing the Islamic world’s cultural capital.”

The Iranian minister of culture and Islamic guidance Mr. Salehi Amiri, in a speech, said that in the present circumstances, the cry of unity and ethics should be chanted among Islamic communities and noted, “Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) considers ethics as his main goal and ISESCO criteria for choosing the cultural capital of the Islamic world is based on this.” Stressing that all Muslims have common principles, Salehi Amiri reiterated: “In the current conditions, Muslims are facing a single enemy and that enemy is the one who portrays a violent image of Islam. In the present conditions, the enemies of Muslims have resorted to extremism and Zionists play an effective role in sowing discord in the Islamic world.”

Noting that Imam Khomeini, by raising the idea of unity week, became the flag-bearer of unity and solidarity among Muslims, the Iranian minister stated: “Today the Islamic world has been placed in bottleneck from two fronts and to exit this situation, it is in need of unity and convergence.” Leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has always stressed the necessity of unity and called it the only solution for the problems of the Islamic world. Now that the Islamic world suffers from discord and violence more than ever, the practice and behavior of Imam Reza teaches us that we can live and gain access to unity. The culture of Imam Reza is the culture of dialogue and convergence and Mashhad in Khorasan is the intersection of civilized communications and the center of new discourses and the place of interaction among individuals from the past till now.

The custodian of Astan Quds Razavi, Hojat ul Eslam Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi, said during the ceremony that the mystery of unity, solidarity and identity of the Islamic world has been rooted in Imam Reza’s teachings. He noted, “Mashhad is the capital of the Islamic world means that today, thanks to the conduct of Imam Reza (PBUH), we can introduce Islamic civilization for Muslims.”

In continuation of the ceremony ISESCO plate was presented by Dr. Amina Al Hajri to the Iranian minister of culture and Islamic guidance. Moreover, precious works were unveiled including the holy Quran written by the renowned calligrapher late Nairizi, deer pictures drawn by maestro Farshchian and designed by Saeed Arzakan, Shams al- Shomus calligraphy painting, clipart and special anthem of the Islamic world’s cultural capital, the book of the Islamic countries and calligraphy scrolls. A 15 minute documentary film was displayed of images of Mashhad in the past century which had not been seen before. Commemorative stamp of the event of “Mashhad, Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2017” and various programs totaling 238 minutes to be implemented throughout 2017 in Mashhad were also unveiled and the special guests visited holy places, museum, workshops of Holy Quran and the Library of Astan Quds Razavi.

The common point for naming Islamic cities as the cultural capital is to introduce Islam in terms of culture with the help of tourism industry. In addition to the nature of introduction and propagation, this issue can be a strategy for absorbing foreign tourists and helping the local economy. Thus, the best measure is paying attention to characteristics of tourism in Mashhad with emphasis on religious tourism in this field. Due to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH), Mashhad has a unique feature. In addition to creating appropriate opportunities for development of tourism it is in need of grounds for diverse programs and events that will impress the Islamic world. Therefore, materialization of programs for introducing Imam Reza’s shrine as the main destination of tourism, Mashhad is at the top priority of programs as the Islamic world’s cultural capital. Introducing Imam Reza’s Holy Shrine can contribute to making human beings acquainted with Imam Reza’s thought, practice and behavior as an immaculate heir of the Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

In the biography of Imam Reza (PBUH), it has been mentioned that the Imam had many debates and dialogues with the scholars of different Islamic sects and other divine religions and even secularists and atheists. As a matter of fact detailed meetings were held in his presence for discussion and exchange of views.

This feature of Imam Reza’s life can be applied as an axis for holding meetings and dialogues among Islamic scholars and thinkers from the entire world with the aim of debates among ideas and thoughts of divine religions. Furthermore, holding exhibition of Islamic countries and cities with diverse topics, existence of several festivals with attractive issues in the field of tourism, exposure of traditions and customs as well as handicrafts and ritual arts can turn Mashhad into the center of cultural events.

It is to be noted that concurrent with naming Mashhad as the cultural capital of the Islamic world among non-Arab Asian states, Sennar in Sudan and Amman the capital Jordan have jointly been recognized as the cultural capital of the Arab countries and the title of the Islamic world’s cultural capital among the African countries was given to Kampala the capital of Uganda.

FK/RM/EA