Centre for Contemporary Jurisprudence (Fiqh)

supreme-leader

ayatollah-qaeni

martyrdom-of-supreme-leader

In a video message, Ayatollah Mohammadi Qaeni, while offering condolences on the martyrdom of the nations Supreme Leader, called on believers and scholars to attend gatherings to preserve the Shi'ite government.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://dl.fiqhci.com/library/video/_فیلم آیت الله قائنی پس از شهادت قائد امت.mp4">https://dl.fiqhci.com/library/video/_فیلم آیت الله قائنی پس از شهادت قائد امت.mp4</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ayatollah Mohammadi Qaeni, while offering condolences on the martyrdom of the leader of the nation, called on believers and  and scholars to attend gatherings 

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Ayatollah Qaeni Calls on Scholars to Take Action to Preserve Shi'ite Government

Iran

ai-research

islamic-sciences

ai-governance

ai-futures

ethics-of-artificial-intelligence

research-grant

call-for-proposals

Tehran (IRNA) – A special research grant call titled “Religious Sciences and Knowledge: Islamic Theoretical Studies on Artificial Intelligence” has been announced for faculty members. Applicants may submit research proposals from June 7 to August 7, 2026.&nbsp;According to the National Science Foundation of Iran, artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most advanced and influential technological achievements of the 21st century. Its impact extends far beyond scientific and industrial fields into nearly every aspect of human life, and this influence continues to expand rapidly. It can even be argued that AI has fundamentally changed the way people live. While AI initially appears to be a technology that serves humanity by dramatically increasing efficiency and productivity, a deeper examination reveals that it is reshaping the world and, consequently, transforming human beings themselves. This broad influence creates not only opportunities but also complex challenges that require careful and comprehensive study.&nbsp;The call invites faculty members from universities, seminaries, and recognized research institutions to submit proposals in the following priority areas.<h2>Priority Research Areas</h2><h3>1. Philosophical and Rational Studies of AI</h3><ul><li>Ontology of AI</li><li>Epistemology of AI</li><li>Logic of AI</li><li>Human foundations of AI (philosophy of mind and AI)</li><li>Value foundations of AI (AI ethics, etc.)</li><li>Psychology of AI</li><li>Cognitive science and AI</li></ul><h3>2. Theological and Religious Studies of AI</h3><ul><li>Theology of AI</li><li>Islamic theology (kalam) and AI</li><li>Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and AI</li><li>Religious studies and AI</li><li>Islamic studies and AI (Qur’anic studies, exegesis, principles of jurisprudence, Islamic history)</li></ul><h3>3. Legal and Economic Studies of AI</h3><ul><li>AI law (foundations, applications, development)</li><li>AI economics (foundations, applications, development)</li></ul><h3>4. Governance and Policy Studies of AI</h3><ul><li>AI governance</li><li>Cyberspace and AI</li><li>Security and AI</li><li>Cognitive warfare and AI</li><li>Politics and AI</li></ul><h3>5. Applied AI Studies</h3><ul><li>Strategies for using AI in religious studies and activities</li><li>Opportunities and challenges of AI adoption</li><li>AI in education</li><li>AI in religious outreach and preaching</li><li>AI in research</li><li>AI in judicial decision-making</li><li>AI in training and character development</li></ul><h3>6. Futures Studies of AI</h3><ul><li>Foundations of AI foresight and future studies</li><li>AI singularity</li><li>AI and future studies of religion and religiosity</li><li>Artificial life</li><li>Smart government and smart cities</li></ul><h3>7. Civilization, Society, and Culture Studies</h3><ul><li>Sociology of AI</li><li>Cultural studies of AI</li><li>Family and AI</li></ul><h3>8. AI and the Human and Islamic Sciences</h3><ul><li>Nature and identity of digital humanities and digital Islamic studies</li><li>Ontological, anthropological, epistemological, and theological foundations of digital humanities and Islamic sciences</li><li>AI-related issues in literature, sociology, psychology, linguistics, management, economics, political science, education, family studies, culture and civilization, and history</li></ul><h2>Eligibility</h2>Applicants must be active faculty members of:<ul><li>Universities,</li><li>Islamic seminaries,</li><li>Or research institutions approved by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.</li></ul>Applicants should possess a relevant academic record in Islamic theoretical studies of AI. Those lacking direct expertise must collaborate with researchers knowledgeable in both AI and Islamic theoretical studies.<h3>Required Research Outputs</h3>Applicants must commit to delivering the following mandatory research outputs:<ul><li>One scholarly book presenting the project's theoretical framework, findings, and contributions.</li><li>Peer-reviewed research articles, including at least one of the following:<ul><li>Articles published in ISC-indexed academic journals; and/or</li><li>Articles published in reputable international journals indexed in recognized citation databases such as JCR, ISI (Web of Science), or Scopus.</li></ul></li></ul>Researchers may also propose additional outputs—such as policy briefs, educational materials, digital resources, conference presentations, or other scholarly products—where appropriate to the objectives and scope of the project. Such outputs will be evaluated based on their relevance, quality, and potential impact.<h2>Research Requirements</h2>To ensure focused and impactful work, proposals should be:<ul><li>Theory-building and innovative,</li><li>Addressing specific theoretical problems in AI,</li><li>Problem-oriented rather than overly broad,</li><li>Grounded in a thorough review of prior research.</li></ul><h2>Timeline</h2><ul><li>Call Opens: June 7, 2026&nbsp;</li><li>Submission Deadline: August 7, 2026&nbsp;</li></ul><h2>Funding</h2>The foundation will provide support of up to 1.5 times the amount of standard research grants, with a maximum funding level of approximately 375 million Iranian tomans.Final funding decisions will depend on factors such as:<ul><li>Originality of the topic,</li><li>Limited prior research,</li><li>Number of collaborators,</li><li>Diversity of outputs,</li><li>Scope of commitments and deliverables.</li></ul><h2>Application Process</h2>Researchers must apply through the foundation’s Kayper online system (https://rtms.insf.org/ ) . Applicants who do not already have a profile must first register and then log in using their email address and assigned password.After logging in, applicants can select the special call “Religious Sciences and Knowledge: AI Studies” from the “Submit New Proposal” section and upload their research proposal.Questions regarding submission procedures, eligibility, or scientific content may be submitted through the ticketing system within the applicant’s Kayper profile to the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts Program Working Group.&nbsp;<a href="https://rtms.insf.org/">https://rtms.insf.org/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Faculty members can apply for a special research grant “Religious Sciences and Knowledge: Islamic Theoretical Studies on Artificial Intelligence”

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Call for Proposals For Research Grant in Religious Studies: Islamic Theoretical Studies on Artificial Intelligence

ai-technology

knowledge-based-companies

persian-ai-assistant

ai-transformation

generative-ai

ai-platform

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News Agency (IRIB News), Seyed Kamran Bagheri, CEO of Smileino, a knowledge-based company, stated that the growing use of artificial intelligence in everyday life and professional activities has highlighted the need for local AI tools tailored to the language, culture, and requirements of Iranian users. In response, Smileino has prioritized the development of Persian-language AI solutions.&nbsp;Referring to Zigap, one of the company's achievements, Bagheri explained that Zigap is a comprehensive intelligent assistant for Persian speakers, designed to address a wide range of user needs through a simple and user-friendly environment. The assistant enables users to perform many daily tasks, including interacting with AI, generating images, and other activities.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:38.52%;"><img src="https://fiqhci.s3.ir-thr-at1.arvanstorage.com/image_19bde3bf2e.png"></figure>&nbsp;He added that Zigap will soon offer a broad range of digital services, significantly improving access to both public and private services. One of its key goals is to provide a Persian-language platform tailored to the needs of Iranian users, allowing them to benefit from AI services in various aspects of daily life without relying on foreign systems. Currently, more than 20 services are available through Zigap, serving approximately 2 million users.&nbsp;Bagheri also introduced Ham-Hoosh, a specialized AI platform designed to drive AI transformation within organizations and businesses. The platform leverages existing digital tools within organizations and integrates them with AI technologies, enabling significant productivity gains and substantial improvements in organizational management.&nbsp;Built on top of organizations' existing digital infrastructures, the platform helps businesses harness AI to solve core operational challenges in ways that were previously impossible. Bagheri noted that many organizations possess vast amounts of scattered data across numerous digital systems. However, understanding and effectively utilizing this data has remained a major challenge. He explained that Ham-Hoosh uses the latest advances in AI technology to interpret and analyze this data, enabling organizations to make better decisions and improve performance. This added value is especially important for large enterprises.&nbsp;According to Bagheri, Ham-Hoosh can be applied across various organizational functions, including customer support, operations, sales, maintenance, finance, procurement, and more. In addition to improving user experience, the platform provides senior executives with unprecedented managerial insights that were previously unimaginable. As a result, many large Iranian companies and organizations are already using Ham-Hoosh to significantly enhance their business operations.&nbsp;Emphasizing the role of knowledge-based companies in advancing strategic technologies, Bagheri stated that the development of indigenous AI products not only addresses domestic needs but also contributes to building a strong technology ecosystem, creating specialized employment opportunities, expanding software infrastructure, and increasing the share of the knowledge-based economy. He further stressed that investing in AI and supporting knowledge-based companies active in this field are among the most important prerequisites for maintaining a strong presence in future technological competition. Domestic teams and products can play a vital role in strengthening technological independence and developing national capabilities.&nbsp;Bagheri concluded by noting that products such as Zigap and Ham-Hoosh have been developed based on the expertise of Iranian specialists. Their widespread adoption, however, depends on increasing public awareness of local AI capabilities and strengthening the country's technology ecosystem through the support of relevant authorities and institutions.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iribnews.ir/00OPs8">https://www.iribnews.ir/00OPs8</a>&nbsp;

A domestic knowledge-based company has successfully designed and developed two indigenous AI-based products to meet the needs of users and organizations 

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Expansion of Indigenous AI Solutions for Businesses

future-of-ai

philosophy-of-artificial-intelligence

Online webinar titled “Philosophy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A lifeline &nbsp;or a Luxury?” was held by the Scientific Association of Wisdom at the University of Razavi Islamic Sciences in cooperation with Imam Ali Research Institute. The event examined the relationship between philosophy, humanity, and artificial intelligence in the contemporary world.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://fiqhci.s3.ir-thr-at1.arvanstorage.com/Chat_GPT_Image_Jun_12_2026_09_45_49_AM_76888e0653.png"></figure>&nbsp;According to Astan News, the webinar was held on Monday, 8 June 2026, with Dr. Asadollah Rahmanzadeh, a philosophy researcher and professor at the University of California, as the speaker; Dr. Ahmad Maleki, head of the Imam Ali Research Institute, as an expert; and Professor Mohammadreza Karam-Rezaei as the scientific secretary.&nbsp;At the beginning of the session, Dr. Asadollah Rahmanzadeh referred to the main branches of philosophy in the Western tradition, stating that philosophy in the West is generally pursued in areas such as epistemology, ontology, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and logic. Overall, it concerns reflection on the limits of human knowledge, truth, existence, and the ways of human life.&nbsp;He explained that philosophy begins by questioning what humans normally take for granted in everyday life, adding that people usually assume they already know what knowledge, ethics, and beauty are; however, philosophy begins precisely where these seemingly self-evident assumptions are questioned. According to him, philosophy entered a new stage with Socrates, who challenged the claims of those who considered themselves knowledgeable. Referring to the relationship between philosophy and artificial intelligence, he stated that many formal and logical structures developed in philosophy and logic are now used in AI technologies. First-order logic, probabilistic reasoning, inference, and rational planning are among the tools that play a role both in philosophical tradition and in AI modeling.&nbsp;Referring to the Turing Test and the problem of distinguishing humans from machines, Rahmanzadeh added that if a machine can behave in conversation in such a way that an external evaluator cannot distinguish it from a human, it is said to have passed the Turing Test. He emphasized that today this question has become more significant: if we reduce thinking merely to logic, formal reasoning, and information processing, where does the fundamental difference between humans and machines lie?&nbsp;He stressed that the crisis of the age of artificial intelligence lies in the distortion of the depth of philosophical thought and its relation to human existence. If humans are understood only in terms of instrumental rationality and formal structures, the boundary between human and machine will ultimately be weakened. According to him, in such a situation, philosophy can provide an opportunity to return to fundamental questions about human beings, meaning, truth, and human existence.&nbsp;In continuation of the session, Dr. Ahmad Maleki also expressed appreciation for the activities of the Scientific Association of Wisdom at the University of Razavi Islamic Sciences and defined philosophy from his perspective, saying: philosophy is the free method of discussion centered on human understanding and reason regarding existence and phenomena. Philosophy arises when humans, without bias, preconceptions, or personal interests, seek to understand truth. He added that philosophy is not merely a set of theories or historical schools of thought; rather, its essence lies in philosophizing itself—an authentic and free intellectual movement to discover reality. According to Maleki, different philosophical schools, despite significant differences, remain within the realm of philosophy as long as they do not depart from rational and logical methods.&nbsp;Referring to the relationship between religious philosophy and free thought, he stated that if someone enters philosophy with predetermined assumptions and then uses it merely to justify them, such an activity is no longer genuine philosophizing. However, this issue is not limited to religious philosophy; in many intellectual currents, philosophy may be used in service of power, desire, interests, or unexamined assumptions. Furthermore, Maleki stated that one of the features of this era is that humans compare themselves with artificial intelligence and experience an identity crisis. In this situation, the question of the difference between humans and machines becomes a fundamental issue. Emphasizing the distinction between humans and AI, he added that no matter how much data processing, analysis, and response capability AI may have, self-awareness in the true sense does not exist. In Islamic philosophy, the human soul possesses a kind of self-knowledge, and this self-awareness is considered one of the fundamental distinctions between humans and machines.&nbsp;Referring to the ethical challenges of the modern world, he noted that one characteristic of the present age is the weakening of the foundations of ethics. This does not simply mean an increase in unethical behavior, but rather that in many contemporary approaches, there is no longer a rational foundation for moral obligation, making it difficult for modern humans to engage in fundamental ethical dialogue.&nbsp;At the end of the session, the speakers emphasized that the age of artificial intelligence is not only a period of technological advancement but also an era that confronts humans with profound questions about truth, consciousness, ethics, meaning, and their place in the world—questions that cannot be answered without returning to philosophical thinking.&nbsp; https://news.razavi.ir/fa/news/709515/فلسفه-در-عصر-هوش-مصنوعی-ساحلی-برای-نجات-انسان-یا-یک-سرگرمی-بیهوده

Webinar “Philosophy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A lifeline or a Luxury?” held by University of Razavi Islamic Sciences 

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Philosophy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A lifeline or a Luxury?

ai-education

emerging-technologies

digital-transformation

ai-strategy

vice-president-for-science,-technology,-and-the-knowledge-based-economy

Iran’s Vice President for Science, Technology, and the Knowledge-Based Economy emphasized the need to bring technology into the everyday lives of citizens and proposed five priority areas: AI-powered technology monitoring, intellectual property reform, technology-enabled spiritual well-being, transformation of science diplomacy, and addressing “technology poverty.” He also called for concentrating on practical projects with measurable outcomes to help solve national challenges.&nbsp;According to ISNA, during a joint meeting with Ali Akbar Rashad, President of the Islamic Culture and Thought Research Institute, Vice President Hossein Afshin stressed the importance of integrating technology into cultural and Islamic thought institutions. He stated that the participation of research centers focused on culture and Islamic thought in science and technology is highly valuable. According to Afshin, the difference between Iran and many other countries is that technology in those countries has become part of everyday life, whereas in Iran it remains largely confined to elites. He argued that technology cannot achieve genuine and sustainable growth until it reaches the broader public. Afshin also proposed defining a limited number of clear priorities rather than pursuing numerous large and scattered projects.<h3>1. Technology Monitoring Through Artificial Intelligence</h3>One of the key priorities, he said, is the creation of an intelligent science and technology monitoring system powered by AI. Afshin noted that the country’s main challenge today is not programming languages but data collection and organization. He emphasized that gathering and structuring both domestic and international data should be a major national priority and should be continuously pursued.<h3>2. Turning Intellectual Property into National Wealth</h3>Afshin highlighted the need to reform intellectual property (IP) policies, noting that the issue has also been discussed within the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. He said policymakers should assess whether legal reforms are necessary and, if so, use the capacities of the Iranian Parliament and the council to implement them.According to Afshin, intellectual property should be viewed as a national asset and source of wealth. Without appropriate management and regulatory mechanisms, however, it could become a liability. Referring to challenges in patent registration and intellectual property systems, he argued that some patents have become merely a means of obtaining academic benefits or trading research credits, rather than creating economic value. The goal, he said, should be to transform intellectual property into tangible wealth and economic growth. He encouraged the research institute to pursue intellectual property reform as a joint project with his office, emphasizing that its benefits would extend across generations.<h3>3. New Technologies for Spiritual Well-Being</h3>Afshin also discussed spiritual health, arguing that health should not be limited to physical well-being. He said psychological and spiritual well-being are equally important and that emerging technologies could be used to develop innovative solutions in this area. He described the field as one with significant potential for research and practical applications.<h3>4. Transforming Scientific and Technological Diplomacy</h3>Another priority highlighted by Afshin was the modernization of Iran’s international scientific and technological relations. He argued that the post-war global environment will require stronger and more effective international engagement. In many cases, he said, international cooperation has been pursued without sufficient cultural preparation within society, making a new approach necessary.<h3>5. Tackling “Technology Poverty”</h3>Afshin introduced the concept of “technology poverty” as a major emerging challenge. He explained that while economic inequality between nations was once the primary concern, technological inequality is now becoming an even greater threat. According to him, the widening technology gap could prove more dangerous than the wealth gap itself. To reduce this divide, he proposed making technology more affordable and expanding collaborative technological partnerships between countries.<h3>Moving Toward Implementation</h3>In his concluding remarks, Afshin stressed the importance of holding regular joint meetings with organizations responsible for international scientific and technological cooperation, as well as various departments within the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology. The goal, he said, is to ensure that these proposals are translated into concrete actions and measurable results for the country.&nbsp; https://www.isna.ir/news/1405031709499/نسخه-افشین-برای-آینده-فناوری-ایران-تمرکز-بر-۵-موضوع-کلیدی

Iran’s Vice President emphasis for concentrating on practical projects with measurable outcomes to help solve national challenges.

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Vice President for Science, Technology, and the Knowledge-Based Economy Outlines Vision for Iran

ai-skills-development

digital-literacy

The Director General of the Office for Upper Secondary Education at Iran’s Ministry of Education announced that free education in artificial intelligence and programming will be provided to all high school students, along with numerous rewards. He described the initiative as a practical step toward achieving educational equity and developing a skilled future workforce.&nbsp;According to ISNA news agency, Ebrahim Rafiei stated at a meeting of leading provincial specialized working groups for the National Digital Skills Program that, under Article 66 of Iran’s Seventh Five-Year Development Plan, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology are required to expand digital education. He explained that the program targets two main groups: government employees, including teachers, and students, who represent the country’s future productive workforce.&nbsp;Rafiei noted that while digital skills had previously been addressed to some extent through the Technology course in lower secondary school, more comprehensive and structured training was needed. Following coordination among ministers and deputy ministers, an institution was appointed by the Ministry of ICT to implement the courses. Beginning in September, the project focused on introducing teachers to digital skills.&nbsp;He explained that the initial goal was to familiarize the program’s instructors and promoters with the content. During this phase, a general AI course was delivered through the Shad educational network, attracting nearly 180,000 participants, primarily educators. According to Rafiei, from September to February the primary focus was teacher training, while student training began in February. Students did not receive instruction through general online platforms; instead, they used a dedicated digital-skills platform that was available both online and offline and was supported by educational resource packages.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rafiei also described a spring initiative that ran from April until May 24 (the anniversary of the Liberation of Khorramshahr). During this program, outstanding students, schools, and active districts were recognized each week. A second phase, called the “Eidiyeh” (Holiday Gift) program, has now begun:&nbsp;<ul><li>71,000 teachers completed the foundational training through the Shad network.</li><li>179,000 teachers joined the channel providing the courses.</li><li>38,000 students are actively participating.</li><li>2,100 teachers and 5,000 students are currently being monitored for progress.</li><li>1,520 teachers and 80,600 students have completed Python programming training.</li></ul>Rafiei said that the next phase will emphasize deeper, project-based learning. Students and teachers will be assigned practical projects, since the program is not intended to remain purely theoretical. Participants who successfully complete their projects will advance to subsequent stages. In the summer, in-person training sessions will begin and will be hosted at educational research centers.&nbsp;He also announced a national festival for top participants in the fourth stage of the program. Approximately 3,000 teachers from earlier rounds will be narrowed down to 300 final award-winning teachers, while 1,000 outstanding students will be selected. These students will reach a level of AI expertise qualifying them as mentors, capable of teaching others at regional and national levels. This approach is intended to make the program self-sustaining, enabling the education system to rely on trained participants as future instructors.&nbsp;Rafiei stated that students who achieve national-level excellence will be introduced to private and public institutions as highly capable candidates for employment. He highlighted the role of private-sector organizations recommended by the Ministry of ICT and described the initiative as one of the strategic programs of the Office for Upper Secondary Education. The first implementation phase will take place this summer and is expected to continue in future years.Discussing the program’s broader goals, Rafiei said:<blockquote>“The aim is that any student entering any type of high school in Iran can receive this training completely free of charge, participate in a scientific competition, and earn increasingly valuable rewards as they progress. With sufficient skills, they may even work as teachers or instructors in this field in the private sector.”</blockquote>He emphasized that skills development and educational equity are the program’s primary objectives, achieved through collaboration between the Ministries of Education and Communications, with support from the private sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Iran to provide free education in artificial intelligence and programming to all high school students