30th Anniversary of the Specialized Library of the History of Islam and Iran and the Launch of the Book Year Thirty

The 551st session at the Qom Studies Foundation marked the 30th anniversary of the Specialized Library of the History of Islam and Iran¹ and the unveiling of the book Year Thirty. It was held on the evening of May 13, 2025 (23 Ordibehesht 1404) at Tolou-e-Mehr University and featured scholars Dr. Mohammad Ali Mahdavi-Rad, Rasul Jafarian, Dr. Javad Bashari, and Majid Gholami Jaliseh.

The session began in a warm and welcoming atmosphere with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an by the international reciter Dr. Sayyid Omid Hosseini-Nejad, followed by the recital of a lengthy poem dedicated to the specialized history library and Professor Jafarian by Aqa Hasan Rajabiyan.

Remarks by Dr. Mohammad Ali Mahdavi-Rad

Shaykh Mahdavi-Rad, a Qur’anic scholar and associate professor at the University of Tehran, spoke about the significance of books, libraries, and bibliography. Referring to the history of specialized libraries in Qom, he identified the founding of the Specialized Library of the History of Islam and Iran—initiated by Shaykh Rasul Jafarian and a group of informed and committed colleagues—as a pioneering step. He described the library as a repository of vast historical sources on Islam and Iran, and expressed appreciation for the tireless efforts of individuals like Aqa Abazari in organizing and managing the institution.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining specialization in library work, Shaykh Mahdavi-Rad stressed the need for a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to knowledge. He praised the invaluable scholarly legacy left by Shaykh Jafarian for students, researchers, and writers, attributing the growth and vitality of the library to Jafarian’s leadership and the cultural passion and stewardship of Ayatullah Shahrestani. He also described Shaykh Jafarian as someone well-versed in digital environments and deeply in love with books, whose meticulous concern for the return of borrowed books is well known.

Shaykh Mahdavi-Rad further characterized Jafarian as a historian with insight and deep understanding who approaches every topic in Islamic civilization with a historical lens—a quality that gives the specialized history library its unique importance. He likened Jafarian to a master photographer who captures rare moments and quickly achieves his objectives, highlighting his intelligence and creativity.

Pointing to Jafarian’s significant works, such as the three-volume Hundred Years of the Seminary and the book Year Thirty, Mahdavi-Rad emphasized their innovation and originality, noting the absence of thematic repetition. Quoting professor Shafi’i Kadkani, he shared the professor’s admiration for Jafarian, describing him as someone who diligently sifts through manuscripts to extract valuable insights and produce meticulously researched historical articles.

In conclusion, Mahdavi-Rad praised the innovations in Year Thirty, highlighting chapters such as “The Scribes of Delijan” and “Libraries and Bookshops of Miyaneh,” which provide readers with valuable information. He reiterated the importance of the rich historical and cultural legacy left by Shaykh Jafarian and encouraged him to rewrite his work on “The Intellectual and Political Life of the Shia Imams,” once again commending his intelligence and reliance on primary sources.

Dr. Javad Bashari’s Remarks

Dr. Javad Bashari, in his remarks at the session, expressed his pleasure in attending the ceremony and addressed the significance of the city of Qom and the Specialized Library of History. He reiterated the well-known phrase, “Qom, the city of libraries,” and noted that while this title was once attributed to Istanbul by the late scholar Minuvi, Qom today also rightfully deserves this name. He credited the presence of vast libraries in Qom to the tireless efforts of great Shi‘a scholars such as the late Shaykh Abdulkarim Ha’eri, Ayatollah Borujerdi, Ayatollah Mar‘ashi Najafi, and in the most recent link of the chain, Ayatullah Sistani. He emphasized that the blessings of Ayatullah Sistani’s legacy have reached the people of Qom through Ayatollah Shahrestani, completing this vital chain.

Dr. Bashari introduced the idea of “library tourism” and believed Qom possesses the potential to become a hub for such an initiative. He expressed hope that, with the encouragement and management of scholars and officials, Qom’s libraries could reach the esteemed status of those in Istanbul. He compared the libraries operating under Ayatullah Sistani’s cultural offices with the major libraries of Tehran, noting that the resources available in Qom significantly reduce researchers’ need to rely on other centers.

Describing the Specialized Library of History as a “paradise for researchers,” he mentioned that renowned scholars such as Iraj Afshar, Shafi‘i Kadkani, the late Asghar Mahdavi, Modarresi Tabataba’i, Rouzati, and Sayyid Jafar Shahidi have utilized its resources. Dr. Bashari praised the management style of Shaykh Jafarian, describing it as that of a generous and outward-looking scholar who has shared his works openly, despite occasionally facing harsh criticism from some academics. Referring to comments by Professor Kadkani, he highlighted Jafarian’s innovation and his role in contributing to civilizational development. He cited his own 20-year personal connection with Jafarian as a model for his own work.

Majid Gholami Jaliseh’s Remarks

Following a welcoming address to Ayatullah Shahrestani, Majid Gholami Jaliseh delivered his remarks. He praised the dedicated efforts of both Ayatollah Shahrestani and Shaykh Jafarian, emphasizing that while thirty years of work on the Specialized History Library may sound simple, its path was challenging and labour-intensive, and today the library stands among the finest in the country.

Echoing Dr. Bashari’s observations about the extensive use of the library by researchers, Jaliseh lamented the lack of a clear national standard for evaluating the societal impact of libraries, even though the influence of this library on cultural and scholarly life is profound. He also highlighted the launch of the library’s digital branch, which has allowed for seamless global access to its resources.

In another part of his remarks, he praised the documentary work accompanying the Year Thirty publication, noting that in past centuries, many libraries have left behind nothing more than a name, with very limited information available. He cited the example of the royal Ghaznavid library in the 5th century, from which valuable details survive thanks to the scholarly librarian Mas‘ud Sa‘d Salman. Jaliseh concluded by expressing his satisfaction that Shaykh Jafarian is a historian by vocation and praised the printing of Year Thirty in Qom, as well as the contributions of Aqa Abazari and Khanum Koushki as collaborators on the project.

Shaykh Bana’i’s Remarks

Shaykh Bana’i, founder of the Qom Studies Foundation and president of Tolou-e-Mehr University, warmly welcomed the guests, especially Ayatullah Shahrestani, Ayatullah Shaykh Hasan Safi, and Aqa Me‘raji. He offered a brief overview of the Foundation’s activities and noted that this was its 551st session. He expressed appreciation for the cultural and infrastructural services provided by Ayatullah Shahrestani’s organization and acknowledged the high status Qom has achieved through the support of Ayatullah Sistani and the efforts of Ayatullah Shahrestani.

Speech by Shaykh Rasul Jafarian

Continuing the session, Shaykh Rasul Jafarian expressed his gratitude to the Qom Studies Foundation for providing the opportunity to unveil the book Year Thirty, and he extended his appreciation for the Foundation’s cultural services. He also thanked Aqa Hadibeh, who played a significant role in compiling and editing the book. Shaykh Jafarian attributed the establishment of the Specialized Library of History to the support and encouragement of Ayatullah Shahrestani, and in reviewing the library’s development, he expressed satisfaction with the current progress on the construction of the new, larger library. He likened Ayatullah Shahrestani to a loyal and precious jewel, noting that due to his ongoing support, the project moved forward smoothly from day one.

He emphasized that the core of the library’s mission has always been a love for books and culture, and that over the years, it has continued on this path with resilience and dedication. He recalled the valuable counsel of friends such as the late Sayyid Hadi Khosroshahi and noted the tireless efforts made along the way.

Shaykh Jafarian then outlined four distinctive features that set the city of Qom apart from others:

The Four Distinctive Features of Qom and the Book “Year Thirty”

The city of Qom possesses certain distinctive features that make it considerably different from other cities. I can identify four of them:

First Feature: From a religious perspective and based on the current official school of thought in the country, Qom is the first city in Iran to have actively promoted this school and influenced surrounding regions in this regard. While Ahvaz is sometimes rightly mentioned as an equally old Shi’i city, Qom’s influence and religious strength have been more far-reaching. This has been emphasized in all old geographical texts. For example, in Ansab al-Ashraf (vol. 3, p. 460), support from some people of Qom for Abū al-Sarāyā, a leader of the Zaydi movement, is mentioned: “A group from among the people of Qom joined Abū al-Sarāyā.” Interestingly, a poem from someone from Qom criticizing Ibn Abī Shaybah is also quoted in Ka‘bī’s Qubūl al-Akhbār (2/138). Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ash‘arī in Maqālāt (1/67) states: “Tashayyu‘ [Shi’ism] predominates among the people of Qom.” There are many such statements. Similarly, in Ṣūrat al-Arḍ (2/370) we find: “All the people of Qom are Shi’a without exception; most of them are Arabs, but their language is Persian.” Similar expressions are found in books of Masālik wa Mamālik and other old geographical texts. This is one distinguishing feature that sets Qom apart from other Iranian cities.

Second Feature: Qom is home to a significant number of religious scholars. This dates back to the second to fourth centuries, when the presence of Ash‘ari hadith scholars—unparalleled elsewhere in the Islamic world—played a central role in shaping Shi‘ism. Figures like Shaykh Ṣadūq and others were influential, and the dominant narrative of Shi‘ism today largely originates from that era. During the Safavid and Qajar periods, governmental support further strengthened the presence of scholars in Qom. In my view, a serious academic study on Qom’s scholarly status during the Safavid era has yet to be written. For the Qajar period, more research has been done. The founding of the seminary by the late Ayatullah Ḥāʾirī marked a major turning point, and to this day the seminary plays a significant national role. This is another crucial dimension of Qom’s identity worth examining.

Third Feature: Qom has long been a major center for pilgrimage, and consequently, a destination for migrants across centuries. This has made it a catalyst for unique historical developments. The main focus of this pilgrimage aspect is the shrine of Lady Maʿṣūmah (s). In this regard, Qom, along with Mashhad and the ‘Atabāt (Iraqi shrine cities), holds special status that shapes their human geography and differentiates them from most other cities. The sacred and pilgrim-centered view of Qom influences its urban layout and atmosphere in unique ways. This feature can be studied from many angles.

Fourth Feature: The one most relevant to our work is Qom’s role as a hub for books, libraries, and publishing. Although this is not an ancient tradition, for several decades now, Qom has ranked second after Tehran in book publishing. But this is not limited to publishing alone—it involves an entire ecosystem: libraries, schools, book authorship, publishing, distribution, and sales—all interconnected. The quality and scholarly goals of these works are a separate topic that, like many of the other aspects, deserves extensive research. Regardless of content, which has considerably improved compared to the past, the infrastructure of publishing, including publishers, printers, and bookstores, are all areas ripe for investigation.

The book “Year Thirty” is focused on this fourth feature and its various aspects. Perhaps it would have been better if all its articles were solely dedicated to libraries, but from the outset, the content was designed to encompass the entire ecosystem. At the time of writing, it may have seemed difficult to create a focused volume solely on libraries, especially within our time constraints. Nevertheless, we hope to produce further volumes of similar scope and focus in the future.

Ode for the 30th Anniversary of the Library of the History of Islam and Iran

This qasida was composed by Ustad Hasan Rajabiyan in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Specialized Library of the History of Islam and Iran. The poem, though honouring the library and Shaykh Rasul Jafarian, also reflects on the broader legacy of librarianship, historical scholarship, and Iranian cultural and philosophical heritage.

Be ever verdant, O garden, in this joyous spring anew—
Thirty years you have endured; may thirty thousand follow you.

O orchard of knowledge! O wine-house of love!
May each cup you pour forth yield a drink ever true.

O library of history, O radiant grove of thought—
May roses bloom from every thorn your branches once knew.

You, who from every side a feast of grace have spread,
Without a word, have served the noble and the few.

Praise from today’s historians rightly belongs to you—
An enduring pride for modern history, ever in view.

O morning breeze! Tell each keen seeker of the light:
Each strand of your hair is tasked with such a love so true.

A crown of honor you must place upon your noble brow,
For from each of your books, a sovereign rises into view.

Your treasure of history—one must call it a royal trove—
A pearl in hand, for each historian to gift, to strew.

The drawer of kings—one must call your shelves by name,
For in your vaults lie jewels that set the mind aflame.

Or shall we name you Jamshid’s cup? For in your mirrored glass,
The tides of time and fate unfold, clear to all who pass.

The armor and the crowns of kings blew off with fleeting gust—
Yet page by page, your growing leaves defy decay and dust.

For those to come, your quiet halls are time’s most sacred place,
You are the heir who best preserves the ancestors’ rich grace.

Say this: each seer of truth, henceforth, shall gaze at you—
And pen the truths of history through your discerning view.

Should the parched ones cry aloud in knowledge’s droughted land,
Let the faithful bring them forth your draughts with healing hand.

A cry arises from your leaves, a summons deep and wide:
Who is the thirsting soul? Where is he? Let him abide.

That famed marketplace of books, once in Baghdad or Herat—
You, O library, now hold its banner and its art.

Tell the master of ‘Abbad, O sufficer of needs—
Come to this realm, and find all that the scholar heeds.

Cry out to Ḥujjat al-Ḥaqq: O Chief of Learned Men!
Leave Nuh ibn Mansur’s court—come to these books again.

Where is Ṭūsī, master sage, Nasir of creed and lore?
Let him make this house his seat by night and evermore.

If the Abbasids found pride in Dār al-Ḥikmah‘s fame,
Bid them enter here, and leave that house to shame.

And if the Buwayhids boast of ‘Aḍud’s treasury bright—
Say: from this orchard’s branches, ‘Aḍud’s vault takes its light.

If you have heard the lofty name of Egypt’s famed Fusṭāṭ—
Then enter this great tent, and let its name be all forgot.

Say that Ibn Khaldun emerges from the depths of time—
To choose, from this great gate, works eternal and sublime.

Tell him: leave the West, its journey now complete;
The time has come to dwell in this enduring seat.

Tell Ibn Asakir, too: your History of Damascus grand
Must now be penned anew—come forth by this command.

Eternal is this noble vault, where treasures shining bright
Are coins of history’s lore—each stamped with purest light.

A nation that finds no lesson in the trials of fate—
Will turn, unheeding, to a home of ruin and waste.

A nation blind to its own tale, its path, its fall, its rise—
Will stumble, once again, on old deceit’s disguise.

If from yesterday you draw tomorrow’s guiding light,
Then know: no teacher teaches better than history’s sight.

Seek the laws of history in history’s own flow—
For no truer lawgiver shall any mortal know.

In the rise and in the fall of kings, secrets are laid bare—
And history holds those secrets with wisdom and with care.

Though this stream has changed its water countless times before,
Look—the moon and stars still shimmer on its ever-steady shore.

History tells you: this is path, and that is pit—beware!
Choose the path, and leave the trap—God’s refuge is not there.

It tells you: the past is lantern for the road ahead—
There is no guide for travelers but footsteps of the dead.

It whispers: in the storm of fate, when trials seize your way—
Come to me, and I shall show the path out of dismay.

History says: if nation and dominion you would adorn,
Then entrust the task to those with wisdom born.

It declares: the world entire is a school of deep regret—
Turn your eyes to Iran and beyond, and ponder what you’ve met.

It says: O soul, inquire the tale of Abu Muslim’s fate,
To learn no wrongful circle guards the just man’s state.

Or behold the Barmakids—how high they once were raised,
Till fate itself tore down the house that once was praised.

What brought the fourth century its glory and its might?
What gave the Iranians their blossom and their height?

What unleashed the Mongol storm upon these ancient lands?
Go and read the sorrowed tale in history’s own hands.

Think deeply on the ruin wrought by rulers’ foolish pride—
See what befell this homeland when wisdom was denied.

Did you not behold the grandeur of Khwarazmshah’s reign?
How all his pomp and glory turned to ash, to dust, to pain?

Power’s steed will one day hurl its rider to the ground—
Be he a mighty warrior or in mail of magic bound.

Be you Nader the Great, or India’s bold conqueror,
Even your vast empire shrinks, a tomb without a stir.

Be you Nader, with the sea of light clutched in your hand—
That sea may turn to fire, and burn what you had planned.

A state built upon oppression never shall endure—
Be it Nader the Afshar or Marwan the impure.

O you who chase the throne, who hunger for command—
Beware the cry of the oppressed, beware God’s heavy hand.

If the eye of insight gazes upon Nāṣir al-Dīn Shāh’s reign,
It sees the weeping over Amīr’s death, a martyr’s pain.

Come—examine all events, and walk through annal’s ways,
Contemplate the men of old, and ponder bygone days.

What were the causes of the great Constitutional Rise?
What its blessings, what its burdens, cloaked in truth or lies?

Line by line, and soul by soul, these tales await your read—
From heart, draw out their wisdom, let them guide your deed.

Read Ibn al-Athīr with care, and heed Ibn Kathīr’s scroll,
Let Bal‘amī be recited, let Bayhaqī’s voice console.

Read—though eyes may flood, let tears stream toward the dawn,
For thought once shaped by ink shall rise and newly spawn.

O noble child of Iran, O firm in faith and creed—
If you seek to guard the truth, then guard your land indeed.

See the fallen arch of Kisrā, spurn the fools that jeer,
Hold this Persian soil as dear as soul and heart sincere.

Persepolis—the mirrored throne of glory’s ancient light,
Where royal hands adorned the land with art and noble might.

So long as Good Thought lives, and Good Speech too remains,
This ancient land shall carry pride in golden-tinted veins.

If the mark of farrah (royal grace) is carved upon your soul,
Seek the light of Yazdān’s favor till your final goal.

The wisdom of the Khusrawānī, from ancient times it came,
Then found its strength in Shaykh-i-Ishrāq’s illumined flame.

If you would trace the source of Ishrāq’s radiant lore,
You’ll find it drinking from Iran’s golden bowl once more.

Greek philosophy—its roots, search not in Athens’ land,
But seek within Iran, where deeper roots still stand.

Name the lands of Babylon, Assyria, and Chaldea too,
But when Iran is named, their boastful claims undo.

If the name of Bukht-Naṣṣar be stained with tyrant’s wrong,
Then the Babylonian Jew to Cyrus owes his song.

Speak the names of righteous ones, your noble kin of old,
If you seek your own name in honor to be told.

To curse your forebears is to strike your very frame—
What mind would call such madness anything but shame?

The one you scorn and curse—he is your very root!
Have you ever seen the wise with their own fathers in dispute?

The model of instruction—seek it in Nizāmiyya’s rise,
For it is there the West first drew its learning’s prized device.

Gaze upon Khayyām and the Jalālī Calendar’s chart—
The shadow of Sultan Jalāl al-Dīn played a noble part.

Pause and see who Bīrūnī, that peerless sage, had been—
Then never shall you count your culture low or mean.

Come and behold Rab‘-i-Rashīdī rise in Tabrīz bright—
See what remains of Rashīd al-Dīn’s legacy of light.

Seek again Mīr Alīshīr, that prince of sword and pen,
That wise and fostering vizier, that sage among great men.

Iran takes pride in the age of Shāh ʿAbbās the Great—
Recall his noble grandeur, his realm’s resplendent state.

The Naqsh-e Jahān displays the world in perfect form,
Its squares, a sign of wonder; its mosque, divinely warm.

Islam and Persia both have shared in giving and receiving,
Each upon the other laid the wreath of proud achieving.

O you who ride through history with thought’s swift steed—
Woe! You’ve cast the cloak of knowledge down in heedless greed.

In narration, in discernment, in your judgment, in your view—
Guard your hand and heart, and keep your insight true.

There is no truth above justice and right—
O seeker of truth, stray not from this light.

O wise one, stay within the bounds of justice—never more—
For one who oversteps shall never reach the shore.

If the rights of those who passed you trample and betray,
Your rights will be undone by those who walk your way.

The judgment of history is grave, daunting, and severe—
Beware becoming unjust—keep your conscience clear.

O ranks of historians, may truth your steps defend,
And your stride in Islam and Iran stand firm until the end.

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Now, my hopeful gaze turns toward His gracious light,
That the autumn may retreat, and spring again take flight.

That King of all the world, dawn of the veiled unknown,
The pivot of all being, the Seal of what is shown.

Yā man ishtāqat ilā liqā’ihi laḥẓu al-ʿuyūn
O beloved! Eyes of longing weep in separation’s tune.

Lift the veil from your face, O musk-sweet seal of Time,
Let history’s final chapter close with your scent sublime.

Justice wears no honor now—its face is shamed and bare,
Restore its dignity again with your sharp, gleaming glare.

The library of history must be praised with heart and soul—
Well done this noble vision, this pioneering goal!

From all the learned minds, a hundred greetings rise
To the great and noble marjaʿ, exalted in the skies.

Ayatollah Sistani—may God reward him best—
By his resolve and wisdom, Shiʿism stands blessed.

Bravo to that noble lord, the generous Mir of Shahristan,
Who serves the crown of marjaʿiyyah with a gracious hand.

That sovereign of dignity, that kindler of the light,
From whose pure giving rose this library’s noble height.

O Rasul of knowledge, this is a sign from among your signs—
Yes, from the hand of messengers, such signs divinely shine!

O greatest library, may good fortune be your guide,
That the fate of knowledge rise where your doors open wide.

O lamp that lights the soul, O torch of learned flame,
Shine on in nights of ignorance, and hold aloft your name.

May your name rise with the sun, ever high and bright—
As long as history tells of Islam and Iran’s might.

Let inspiration’s crown bow at your seven-vaulted dome,
And at the entrance of each library, let reverence find its home.

When tomorrow’s dusty winds rise from your sacred ground,
They’ll settle once again upon your books, where truth is found.

—Hasan Rajabiyan
Mehr, 1403 (September–October 2024)

1. This was the same library I visited to access certain texts that helped me write the article on the 9th Rabi al-Awwal.