Al-Hawza al-'Ilmiyya: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Fayziyya madrasa.jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|[[Feydiyya School]], the main madrasa of [[Shi'a]] Seminary in [[Qom]], located near the [[holy shrine of Lady Fatima al-Ma'suma (a)]]]]

'''Shiʿa Seminary''' or '''al-Ḥawza al-ʿIlmīyya''' (Farsi: "حوزۀ علمیه"; Arabic: "الحوزة" or "الحوزة العلمية") is the title given to the [[Twelver Shi'a]] educational institution which involves teaching religious ideas and educating religious students. Due to the importance of religious teachings including [[Fiqh]], [[theology|Kalam]] (Islamic theology) and [[Quranic sciences]], a special educational system has been developed for this institution during [[Shi'a history]]. Usually financial expenses of seminaries are covered through obligatory [[religious payments]] and donations of [[Marja'|religious authorities]].

There are relations between minor and major seminaries. Religious students usually begin their studies from smaller schools and later go to bigger schools to complete their educations. Seminaries of [[Seminary of Qom|Qom]], [[Seminary of Najaf|Najaf]], [[Seminary of Baghdad|Baghdad]], [[Seminary of Hilla|Hilla]], [[Seminary of Jabal 'Amel|Jabal 'Amil]] and [[Seminary of Isfahan|Isfahan]] have been the most important Shi'a seminaries and each has been the total authority of all [[Shi'a]] for a while. Every seminary usually manages some schools.

== The Term "Huwzi-yi 'Ilmiyyi" (Farsi) ==

The term "Huwzi-yi 'Ilmiyyi" (transliterated from Farsi) in later usage has been used for Twelver Shi'a educational institution even though the essence of such an institution existed for centuries. The word "Huwzi-yi 'Ilmiyyi" or "al-Hawza al-'Ilmiyya" is a common name among Shi'a and refers to the religious learning center.

There are evidences suggesting that such a usage dates back to a hundred years ago when Shaykh [['Abd al-Karim Ha'iri]] established an institution in [[Qom]] in 1313 SH/1934, and called it in Farsi "Jami'i-yi 'Ilmiyyi-yi Qum". Usage of the title "Huwzi-yi 'Ilmiyyi" started years after that.

== History of Seminaries ==

[[Imams]]' conducts in discussions and exchanging ideas:

* They also sent oral and written messages to Shi'a of different cities to learn their religious teachings from the above-mentioned talented people.

* They also introduced those people who were not appropriate for being followed but were among students of Imams to people and prohibited them from following them. In fact, expanding educational network having regulations and rules was one of the first traditions established at the time of Imams. This two-century process can be considered the footstone of the formation of Shi'a seminaries. Since then, several seminaries were established in different cities.

{{main|Hawza's educational system}}

Hawza's educational system has always been text-based and the first step of a student is acquiring the power to properly understand the text. Hawzas focus on certain texts and use commentaries on text-books. These texts were written by top teachers of hawzas and have often had complications in understanding which were explained by teachers when teaching them, so that mastery of teachers were evaluated by their competence in explaining the complications and the students were evaluated by their competence in interpreting these texts. Shi'a educational system which is based on the teacher-student interaction and working on a text has been developed through methods below. These methods, more than anything, has been based on [[Imams' (a)]] teaching method for their companions and students:

 

Mubahatha (discussion) is one of the most important teaching methods in seminaries. An important feature of such an educational system is preventing misunderstanding, scholarly humbleness and inhibition against hurried and careless assessments. This tradition of discussion continues to the level of "Kharij lessons". Also, after that, sometimes ijtihadi between top people of a generation who have reached mastery and [[ijtihad]]. In recent years, due to methodical developments and facilities including recording of classes and the access to class contents, the tradition of discussion has been weakened.

 

==== Seminary Sciences ====

* [[Muqaddamat]] (Basics): In the course of Basics, Arabic literature, [[logic]], semi-analytical [[fiqh]] and [[Usul al-fiqh]] are taught.

* [[Sath]] (the intermediate level): In the courses of Sath, text-based analytical fiqh and Usul al-fiqh.

* [[Kharij lessons]] (the advanced level): Kharij classes are advanced lessons in seminary. Traditionally, this course begins after passing Muqaddamat and Sath. The amount of time that takes to teach a text, especially texts of advanced levels, depends on the teacher and is different depending on the teaching method of the teacher. After finishing courses of Muqaddamat and Sath, students participate Kharij classes and evaluate their capabilities in criticizing opinions of scholars. In this course, the teacher explain different opinions about the topic under discussion without focusing on a certain text and finally give their own opinion accordingly.

| align=center|'''[[Thiqat al-Islam]]'''||It is a general title for respecting [[Twelver Shi'a]] scholars, particular title of [[Muhammad b. Ya'qub al-Kulayni]] and in recent years, shows a certain

| align=center|'''[[Akhund]]'''||A Persian word, meaning scholar, is a title for religious leader and teacher which was first used in Iran as an respectful title for seminary scholars of [[Timurids|Timurid era]]. In [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar]] period, the usage of this title was extended and included instructors of [[Maktab Khana]]s [elementary schools in the past]. Among scholars of that time, Mulla [[Muhammad Kazim Khurasani]] was called Akhund. Now, this is a general title for clergies.

| align=center|'''[[Shaykh]]'''||

|- style="background:"

| align=center|'''[[Hujjat al-Islam]]'''||It is a special title for some [[Muslim]] scholars and among general titles of Shi'a clergies in contemporary era. Using this title for Shi'a clergies began from [[Fathali Shah Qajar|Fathali Shah]] and sometimes was lengthened as "Hujjat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin" to show more respect. Today, "Hujjat al-Islam" is used as a title for clergies who have passed some of the advanced lessons of [[fiqh]] and [[Usul al-fiqh]] and contrary to [[constitutionalizm|Mashruteh period]], it is not used for high rank clergies.

| align=center|'''[[Mujtahid]]'''||

| align=center|'''[[Marja']]''''||

| align=center|'''[['Allama]]'''||

* '''Madaris 'Ilmiyya''' (seminary schools) are the most important teaching places in seminary educational system. In the last centuries, Shi'as have had many schools. Their founders were sometimes government officials, businessmen, landlords and sometimes Islamic scholars. Sometimes, it is seen that people from other classes such as physicians, artists, etc. have built schools. Library was the greatest benefit of schools in addition to their educational activities. Teachers' payments and students' stipends have been paid from donations to the school. Students' rooms for living have been another privilege of seminary schools over other educational institutions.

* '''Mosques''': one of the functions of mosques at the beginning of Islam has been educational. Using mosques for teaching different Islamic sciences has always been a good option for Shi'a scholars. Especially when Shi'a has been experiencing difficulty and lack of schools, mosques have been used to maintain circles of teaching and learning. However when seminary have been available, Shi'a scholars and authorities preferred them over mosques for teaching. Class of [[Sayyid Ahmad Khwansari]] in Sayyid 'Azizullah mosque in [[Tehran]], [[Imam Khomeini]]'s class in [[A'zam Mosque]] of [[Qom]] are two examples. Today, Kharij classes of [[Makarem Shirazi]], [[Vahid Khurasani]], [[Nuri Hamadani]] and [[Ja'far Subhani]] and also [[Tafsir]] class of [[Javadi Amuli]] have been held in Azam mosque of Qom.

== Akhlaq lessons ==

Akhlaq lessons (moral advice lessons) have been some of most popular side lessons of seminaries. The purpose of such classes has been familiarizing students and drawing their attention to virtues and manners of the people of knowledge which they sometimes called it "Ziyy Talabegi" or "student lifestyle". At the time of [[Al-Shaykh Murtada al-Ansari]], [[Sayyid Ali Shushtari]], who himself participated in the [[Fiqh]] class of Shaykh Ansari, began teaching Akhlaq every week following the order of Shaykh Ansari. (He even had a special Akhlaq class for Shaykh Ansari himself.)

At the beginning of immigration of [[Shaykh 'Abd al-Karim Ha'iri]], there was no official Akhlaq class and he had included teachings of Akhlaq in the seminary lesson program. [[Mirza Javad Maleki Tabrizi]] was among those who taught Akhlaq following Shaykh 'Abd al-Karim Ha'iri's request. After Maleki Tabrizi passed away, [[Imam Khomeini]] held class of Akhlaq on Thursdays afternoon in [[Feydiyya]] school and he would not go on the pulpit as a sign of respect to Shaykh. Even businessmen participated in his class. Some teachers of Kharij (advanced level) used to assign a part of their class hour on the last day of teaching for a moral advice, often in the form of reciting and explaining a hadith.

Since long ago, some great scholars have written texts on manner and Akhlaq for their seminary audience such as:

== Elements of establishment and Declination ==

* '''Holy shrines of Shi'a imams (a)''' and some of their progeny have provided a suitable place for establishing seminaries due to the gathering of Shi'a around them. Seminaries of Qom, Mashhad, Karbala, [[Kadhimiya]] and [[Samarra]] are in this group.

* '''Political centralization of some cities at the times of Shi'a rulers''' resulted in establishment of some seminaries in [[Isfahan]], [[Tehran]], [[Qazvin]] and [[Tabriz]].

* '''Educational needs''': There have been some seminaries which were established due to educational needs in a Shi'a city such as the seminaries of [[Kashan]], [[Shiraz]], Sabzevar, [[Shushtar]], [[Jabal Amil]] and [[Bahrain]].

* Announcements, declarations and participation in social, political, etc. participation in certain cases

Usually, seminaries are being using the [[Wujuhat]] (religious obligatory payments) given directly by people or representatives and agents of authorities. Also, sometimes donations or the earnings of some donated properties have been used for the mentioned purpose. The same tradition continues to the present and fulfilling financial needs of seminaries is still done by Maraji' (Islamic authorities of emulation).

Shahriyya is a monthly financial help paid to students by Maraji'. Paying stipend to students of Islamic studies is an old tradition practiced since long time ago. Paying Shahriyya by an Islamic scholar is one of the signs of his Marja'iyya (authority).  

 

=== Independence of Seminaries ===

* Usually Thursdays and Fridays, seminaries are closed.

* In certain occasions (demise of the [[Infallibles (a)]] and [[Eid]]s) classes are off.

* There are two or three long-time holiday times in the [[month of Ramadan]], the first half of the month of [[Muharram]] and the second half of the month of [[Safar al-Muzaffar|Safar]], so that students can go to different regions for preaching.

* A part of summer or all of that is also holiday time for seminaries.

In most Shi'a cities where clergies and graduate students of seminary went for preaching, educational seminary tradition would form according to scholarly positions of those clergies, the importance of the city and people's interests. Graduates of these smaller seminaries usually were connected with larger seminaries and would go there if wanted to continue their education. Sometimes, this scholarly journey happened in two levels: students would go from smaller seminaries to larger seminaries and from there, they would go to central seminaries.

In Safavid era, Isfahan had the largest and most authentic seminary and students from different regions such as Bahrain, Shiraz, [[Khuzistan]], Lahijan, Qazvin, Kashan and [[Khwansar]] went there. In the time of [[Qajar]], from different cities of Mazandaran province, students came to Tehran and then went to Isfahan. Also, some students would go to Najaf after finishing their education in Isfahan. Students from different cities of Caucasus first went to Tabriz or [[Zanjan]] and from there they went to Tehran and then went to Najaf. Coming and going from and to Shi'a cities of [[India]] and then between Isfahan and Najaf existed from long ago.

In recent decades, due to development of the position of the seminary of Qom, students from India, [[Pakistan]], [[Lebanon]], Bahrain and many other places including different cities of Iran would go to Qom to continue their education at high levels.

=== Most Important Shi'a Seminaries ===

| align=center|[[Seminary of Qom]]||Seminary of [[Qom]] is among the most important Shi'a seminaries which was established in the middle of the second century AH and immigration of [[Ash'ari family]] was influential in its establishment. Seminary of Qom flourished in the third and fourth centuries, but after seminaries of [[seminary of Rey|Rey]] and [[seminary of Baghdad|Baghdad]] were flourished in the fifth century and the seminary of Qom was less interested. After the [[attack of Mongols]] in 621, it declined; however, when Shaykh [['Abd al-Karim Ha'iri]] entered Qom in 1921, the seminary was re-established and when [[Ayatullah Burujirdi]] entered the city, the seminary became as important as the largest seminary of that time which was the [[seminary of Najaf]]. After the [[Islamic Revolution|revolution in Iran]], it was more developed. Today, many students from different parts of the world go to Qom for seminary education.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Baghdad]]||Establishment of the seminary of [[Baghdad]] dates back to the time of [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]]. Seminary of Baghdad became the the scholarly authority of Shi'a at the time of [[Buyid dynasty|Buyid]] when scholars such as [[Ibn Junayd al-Iskafi|Ibn Junayd]], [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid|Shaykh Mufid]], [[Al-Sharif al-Murtada|Sayyid Murtada]] and [[Al-Shaykh al-Tusi|Shaykh al-Tusi]] emerged.  However, when Seljuk Tughril entered Baghdad in [[447]] AH, the seminary declined and the scholarly authority of Shi'a shifted to Najaf.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Najaf]]||With the presence of Shakh al-Tusi, [[Najaf]] became the scholarly and intellectual center of Shi'a. But in the sixth century, when [[Ibn Idris al-Hilli|Muhammad b. Idris al-Hilli]] emerged in [[Hilla]], seminary of Najaf declined and the scholarly center of Shi'a shifted to Hilla. The presence of [[Muhaqqiq Ardabili]] in seminary of Najaf, helped it flourish again. Since 4th decade of 11th century AH, like other seminaries, seminary of Najaf suffered from [[Akhbari movement]]. Since 13th century AH, when [[Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahr al-'Ulum|'Allama Bahr al-'Ulum]] and students of [[Muhammad Baqir Bihbahani|Wahid Bihbahani]] began teaching in Najaf, the seminary of Najaf regained its glory and position and again became the scholarly center of Shi'a.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Hilla]]||Seminary of [[Hilla]] was established in 5th century AH by [[Bani Mazid]] Shi'a government. Since the middle of 6th century and all 7th and 8th centuries AH, it was the most authoritative Shi'a seminary. However, mostly because of recurrent wars happened to seize Hilla during feudal period after Ilkhanate, the seminary of Hilla declined and seminary of Najaf took its position. Ibn Idris al-Hilli, al-'Allama al-Hilli and [['Ali b. Musa b. Ja'far b. Tawus|Ibn Tawus]] were among top scholars of the seminary of Hilla.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Jabal 'Amel]]||Seminary of [[Jabal 'Amel]] included some scholarly and educational Shi'a centers in some cities and villages of Lebanon since the middle of 8th century until middle of 10th century AH. [[Al-Shahid al-Awwal]], [[al-Shahid al-Thani]], [[Al-Hurr al-'Amili|Shaykh Hurr al-Amili]] and [[al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki]] were most famous scholars of the seminary of Jabal 'Amel. Graduates of that seminary and works published there were most influential in establishment of the seminary of Isfahan, other seminaries and even the seminary of Najaf recently.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Isfahan]]||Seminary of [[Isfahan]] was established after Shi'a became the official religion in [[Iran]] during [[Safavid]] era, when Isfahan became the capital. Great scholars including [[Mirza 'Abd Allah Asfandi]], [[Shaykh Baha'i]], [[Muhammad Baqir Sabziwari]], [[Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi]], [[Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi]], [[Aqa Jamal Khwansari]] and [[Sayyid Abu l-Hasan Isfahani|Sayyid Abu al-Hasan Isfahani]] were educated in that seminary.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Mashhad]]||

|- style="background:"

| align=center|[[Seminary of Rey]]||Seminary of [[Rey]] was established in the second half of 3rd century AH when [[Alavi]]s immigrated to Rey. [[Muhammad b. Ya'qub al-Kulayni]], [[Al-Shaykh al-Saduq|Shaykh Saduq]], [[Ibn Qiba|Ibn Qiba Razi and [[Abu l-Futuh al-Razi|Abu al-Futuh Razi]] were famous scholars of that seminary.

| align=center|[[Seminary of Tehran]]||It was established at the time of [[Aqa Muhammad Khan Qajar]]. Seminary of [[Tehran]] was the link between major seminaries of that era such as the seminaries of Najaf, [[Karbala]], Isfahan and minor seminaries of other cities in Iran. [[Muhammad Hasan Ashtiyani]], [[Mulla 'Ali Kani|Haj Mulla Ali Kani]], Shaykh [[Fadl Allah Nuri]], [[Muhammad Taqi Amuli]], [[Sayyid Ahmad Khwansari]], [[Muhammad Mahdi Ilahi Qumshe'i]] and [[Abu al-Hasan Sha'rani]] were most famous scholars of that seminary. Seminary of Tehran was active in political issues such as [[Tobacco Protest]], [[Constitutional movement|uprising for Constitution]], fighting with anti-religious actions of [[Reda Pahlavi]], [[Nationalization of Oil]], Uprising of 15 of Khordad (June 5th, 1963) and the [[Islamic revolution]] in Iran.

==External Links==

[[Category:Seminaries]]