Preachers Call for Greater Government Support to Achieve Their Goals

TEHRAN (Iran News) Hojjatoleslam Rezwani-Zadeh, one of the attending scholars and preachers, told reporters:

“I can confidently say that one of the legal, social, and religious duties of the government is to support preachers. I consider this a legal obligation. Without the government’s cooperation, preachers face many challenges. Effective religious propagation requires proper conditions—facilities, spaces, and time—which the government should provide. The state must help remove obstacles and prepare the ground so that preachers can effectively promote and defend religion.”

Hojjatoleslam Sibouyeh, head of the Society of Velayati Preachers, responding to a question on the society’s role in strengthening faith and religious values, said:

“We are living in sensitive times—an era of religious estrangement and ideological crises. That’s why we decided to form an organized body called the Society of Velayati Preachers. After holding several preparatory meetings, we were blessed with success to officially launch this initiative. Our goal is to train preachers who can understand and respond to people’s religious needs and spiritual doubts. We thank God for granting us the opportunity to help elevate the public’s theological and jurisprudential understanding and organize religious efforts across society.”

Addressing the role of social media, Sibouyeh added: “One of our key missions is to provide meaningful and faith-based content for digital platforms. We aim to develop a healthy, religiously conscious online space offering diverse, value-oriented programs for the public.”

When asked about the performance of preachers in recent years, Hojjatoleslam Ghahramani-Nejad, another scholar and preacher, said:

“In my opinion, preachers have improved their performance significantly. Today’s preachers—those wearing the Prophet’s robe—are increasingly equipped with modern communication tools. They are more motivated and dedicate more time to new media and even artificial intelligence. Younger preachers, who use modern methods instead of traditional lectures, are more successful. Today’s audiences expect engagement and dialogue, not just one-way sermons. A modern preacher must be equipped not only with digital skills but also with knowledge of theology, logic, and the ability to respond to doubts and misconceptions.”

Hojjatoleslam Forghani also commented on the challenges of the digital age:

“In today’s world, preachers must stay up to date with modern tools and technologies. Otherwise, they will fall behind. Imam Sadiq (AS) once stood up in honor of a young preacher, Hisham ibn Hakam, who traveled long distances in harsh conditions to convey the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt. The Imam said, ‘This is Hisham ibn Hakam—our helper by heart, tongue, and hand.’ This shows the high spiritual and social rank that preachers hold in Islam.”

Meanwhile, Hojjatoleslam Sa’idi, Deputy Head of the Qom Seminary, emphasized the importance of systematic training:

“Preaching requires skill and structure. Not everyone wearing clerical attire is automatically a preacher, and even lay Muslims can engage in propagation within their capacity. Preaching involves key elements—timing, understanding the audience, and topic selection. The seminary has made great strides in professionalizing this field. We now have specialized centers and academic programs in preaching, as well as networks like Safiran-e Hedayat (Ambassadors of Guidance), whose graduates serve across the country in social, academic, military, and civic settings.”

The Society of Velaeei Preachers (JAMO) held its third general assembly on Thursday evening at Sahib al-Zamani Hosseiniyeh in Tehran, attended by scholars, clerics, and preachers.

During the event, a number of participants completed membership forms and expressed readiness to take part in future selection interviews. The session began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an by Hojjatoleslam Ranjbar Shirazi, followed by opening remarks from Ayatollah Sibouyeh, who welcomed the attendees.

Later, Ayatollah Rezwani-Zadeh delivered a lecture on the jurisprudential obligations of enjoining good and forbidding evil in today’s society. The first part of the documentary “Qom and the Guardians of Shi’ism” was then screened, focusing on the history of the Qom Seminary up to the leadership of the late Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul-Karim Haeri Yazdi.

Ayatollah Seifi Amoli also presented an analysis of Sermon 53 from Nahj al-Balagha, and Hojjatoleslam Seyed Mohammad Aghamiri, a member of the Tehran City Council, gave a report on the reconstruction of damaged religious sites.

The conference aimed to enhance the social role of preachers and strengthen cooperation among them. The society’s central council announced plans to hold specialized training programs for official members in the near future.