Official Highlights Cultural Activities of Astan of Imam Ali Holy Shrine
Sajjad al-Anbaki, deputy head of the Astan’s Department of Cultural and Ideological Affairs, told IQNA in an interview that the department has an educational deputy, a Dar-ol-Quran center, a center for restoring and reviving heritage, and a treasure center.
He said the department organizes various Quranic, ideological and cultural programs for different age groups.
According to al-Anbaki, the kindergarten affiliated to the department makes efforts to raise children based on the thoughts and teachings of Imam Ali (AS) and other Infallibles (AS) so that they are acquainted with Islamic and Alavi (of Imam Ali) morality and conduct.
The department also has four Islamic schools in Najaf that admits students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades, he noted.
The official added that the lessons offered in the school and the method used have been approved by the Shia Waqf Department of Iraq.
Another part of the department’s programs are Quranic activities that are carried out by the Dar-ol-Quran center, he said.
The center has several sections that focus on Quranic education, Quranic circles and Quran competitions, al-Anbaki stated.
The Department of Cultural and Ideological Affairs also has a studies and research section tasked with holding scholarly seminars and conferences and conducting research in various Quranic, cultural and ideological fields, he said.
There are also the library and publications section and the center for restoring and reviving heritage, the official went on to say.
He noted that the library has two parts: digital and written and that the al-Hudayria Library of the Astan is among the richest libraries in the Muslim world.
The treasure center of the department, which is among its oldest sections, is a place where unique and rare copies and manuscripts such as Quran copies attributed to Imam Ali (AS), Imam Sajjad (AS) and other Infallible Imams (AS) are held, al-Anbaki further said.
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