Speaking at the session titled “Arbaeen and the Civilizing Future of the Islamic Ummah”, Hojatoleslam Hosseini Kouhsari stressed that addressing civilizational issues is a key necessity for Iran, the Islamic Revolution, and the broader Islamic world. He cited several factors underpinning this need: the comprehensiveness of Islam, the presence of civilizational teachings in religion, Iran’s historical experiences before and after Islam, the ongoing civilizational confrontation between the West and the Islamic world, and the current transitional moment in global history.
Highlighting the 12-Day War as a pivotal turning point, he said it marked one of the most decisive moments in the history of the Revolution and modern Iran. He noted that in the transition from bipolar and unipolar world orders to a multipolar system, the Islamic system has emerged as the only rising power capable of confronting Western civilization—specifically the United States and Israel—on both the ideological and hybrid warfare fronts, and achieving success.
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Kouhsari explained that Arbaeen holds both “software” and “hardware” civilizational capacities. The software dimension includes its philosophical and epistemological depth, Mahdist vision, moral motivation, and spiritual values. The hardware dimension, he said, involves population, economy, security, media, art, politics, science and technology, culture, and law.
He described Arbaeen’s civilizational Islam as global, nation-oriented, unity-driven, peace-seeking, honor-focused, resistance-oriented, science- and progress-oriented, ethical, and committed to human dignity and nature.
To advance Arbaeen’s civilization-building role, he outlined a strategy of making it a unifying axis across multiple fronts:
- Strengthening Iran-Iraq relations and bonds among all Islamic nations
- Deepening ties between the Qom and Najaf seminaries
- Fostering unity among Shia and Sunni communities
- Enhancing interaction between Islam and other religions
- Connecting scholars, business leaders, media professionals, artists, youth, students, politicians, and religious institutions
“Arbaeen,” he concluded, “is not only a spiritual pilgrimage but also a foundation for civilizational progress, unity, and resistance in the Islamic world.”
