According to the Public Relations of the Research Institute for Islamic Culture and Thought, Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Kashi Zadeh, a faculty member of the Islamic Theology and Modern Theology group at the Institute, has provided us with a note on the occasion of the publication of his latest work titled “Jihad of Clarification; Logic and Method,” which you can read below:
In the realm of Jihad of Clarification, a precise understanding of priorities is one of the most important tools for achieving success. Jihad of Clarification, as a social and cultural duty, requires focusing on key issues that, when addressed, can have the greatest impact on awareness-raising and combating doubts and distortions. Neglecting priority identification in this field not only prevents the realization of goals but may also lead to reverse outcomes. This note aims to explore the principles and methods of priority identification and clarify its position in Jihad of Clarification.
The Necessity of Priority Identification in Jihad of Clarification
Clarification, meaning unveiling of truths, is always faced with limitations such as time, resources, and audience attention. Therefore, it is not possible to address all issues simultaneously. A failure to correctly identify the main issues may result in the waste of energy on peripheral topics and neglect of the main issues.
The Principles of Priority Identification in Jihad of Clarification
Identifying Correct Criteria:
In Jihad of Clarification, the criteria for measuring priority are the importance of the topic, the extent of its impact, and the level of societal need for awareness-raising about it. If correct criteria are not available, different issues are perceived as equally important, and the result will only be the scattering of efforts without any substantial outcome.
An example of this principle can be found in the words of Imam Khomeini (RA). During the Sacred Defense period, when some Iranian forces were heading to Lebanon to confront the Zionist regime, he said: “The way to Quds passes through Karbala.” With this statement, he clarified the priority of Clarification and enlightening about the necessity of focusing on confronting the Ba’athist regime of Iraq over other issues. Here, the criterion was the preservation of the country’s independence and territorial integrity and the defense of Islam against an enemy directly engaged in war.
Impact Factor:
In Jihad of Clarification, some issues have a greater impact on society and can be transformative. The Of Clarification activist should always seek topics that have the highest impact factor. For example, in response to the doubts raised in the book “Secrets of a Thousand Years,” Imam Khomeini (RA) suspended his lectures for two months to write the book “Kashf al-Asrar” to provide a comprehensive and clear response to the doubts. This decision demonstrates that in Jihad of Clarification, addressing influential doubts and distortions can be of higher priority than many other activities.
Attention to Consequences and the Enemy’s Plan:
In many cases, the enemy seeks to divert society’s main priorities by emphasizing specific issues. In Jihad of Clarification, awareness of the consequences of activities and understanding the enemy’s plans is an undeniable necessity. For instance, during Imam Khomeini’s (RA) struggle against the Pahlavi regime, when the Iraqi regime tried to incite religious scholars in Najaf against Iran and exploit Imam’s presence in Iraq, he explicitly stated that he would not send a supportive message against Iran. This decision reflects Imam’s precision and vigilance in prioritizing tasks and avoiding common ground with the enemy.
The Application of Priority Identification in Today’s Jihad of Clarification
In the present era, Jihad of Clarification faces multiple challenges such as religious doubts, historical distortions, and media warfare. In this context, priority identification can assist activists in this field:
- Focus on Main Doubts: Instead of unfocused efforts, they should focus on responding to impactful doubts in society.
- Enhance Awareness on Key Topics: Such as defending national identity, strengthening religious foundations, and enlightening against cultural onslaughts.
- Avoid Falling into the Enemy’s Trap: By analyzing the enemy’s media strategy, avoid paying attention to trivial and deviating issues.
Conclusion:
Priority identification is the beating heart of Jihad of Clarification. Accurate identification of important and more important issues not only increases the efficiency of limited resources but also saves society from falling into the traps of scattering efforts and strategic mistakes. By considering criteria such as impact factor, the positive and negative effects of actions, and understanding the enemy’s plans, more effective steps can be taken in this path.
Jihad of Clarification is a field of knowledgeable and intelligent action, and priority identification, as a key strategy, plays an undeniable role in its success.
