From ‘Mother-Daughter’ Book Reading Circles to the National Book Reading Team at Imam Hassan Mojtaba Mosque (AS)

According to the website Fikr va Farhang-e Moballeq, the Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) Library is part of the Shahid Razavi Cultural-Artistic Center of Imam Hassan Mosque (AS) and the Roshd Foundation of this mosque in Azadshahr neighborhood, Mashhad. It not only guides and leads mosque children through effective programs in the field of books and reading but also in educational matters.

A significant increase in the number of members; growth in per capita reading and family participation; strengthening of reading circles for toddlers to adults; expansion of media and educational activities; and effective cultural investments are some highlights of the growing performance of this mosque library.

According to Shabestan, to strengthen the culture of reading and create a vibrant and intimate book-centered environment, programs such as “Book Wednesdays,” “Mom-Daughter Reading Gathering,” “Reading Sundays” (held weekly at the library), the mosque’s reading circle for adults (held every Monday focusing on the Statement of the Second Step of the Revolution as a reading of the nation’s future roadmap for men still committed to the revolution), and reading circles for mosque attendees (held every night for worshippers) are organized.

The Roshd Foundation’s National Hopes Book Reading Team is another initiative of this library and foundation, created to foster competition among children who love to read, and it has significantly increased the per capita reading rate in this neighborhood.

Mosque: A Central Hub for Educating Today’s Generation

Elias Nejati, CEO of the Roshd Cultural-Educational Foundation, told a reporter from Shabestan News Agency in Mashhad: “Since mosques have historically been the first meeting places for the ideological and behavioral unity of Muslims in Islam, planning for greater growth and excellence has taken shape in this spiritual center. The concern of the mosque’s custodians has been to retain youth and teenagers within the mosque community and to strengthen and expand this group from childhood to adulthood by addressing some of their needs. Therefore, in this mosque, alongside congregational prayers, mourning ceremonies are held, and a library, media group, preschool and elementary school center, media group, animation production, martial arts training, and educational classes are also active.”

He added: “One of the sections of Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) Mosque and Roshd Cultural Foundation is the Imam Hassan (AS) Public Library, which was officially opened in February 2024 (Bahman 1402) in a space with an area of 300 square meters and over 1000 book copies. The number of active and regular members of this library currently exceeds 250 people.”

He continued: “Our effort is for children and teenagers, by attending this library, to turn the mosque into a center for education in various fields, just like a school or university.”

Reviewing and Updating Library Resources

Nejati emphasized the importance of updating library books and stated: “One of the important measures taken late last year was the review of library resources. All books that had lost their physical and content standards or were not attractive to the library’s target age group (toddlers, teenagers, and youth) were collected from the Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) Library. This action was taken with the aim of improving the quality of library resources and increasing member satisfaction.”

He added: “Last November, to provide attractive and useful content for toddlers and strengthen the reading wave in the neighborhood, new books were purchased in two phases. The first phase involved purchasing 250 book copies worth 7.5 million Tomans, and the second phase involved purchasing 63 book copies worth 3.5 million Tomans. All costs related to book purchases and other cultural activities of the library have been covered by the revenues of the Javaneh Organic Store, the economic section of the complex.”

Investment in Books

The CEO of Roshd Foundation stated: “Based on studies conducted, in 2024 (1403), Roshd Foundation invested 10,609,000 Tomans in the field of books. Of this amount, about 7,000,000 Tomans were allocated to purchasing books for shelves and book loans, and the remaining portion was spent on holding reading circles, the Javaneh book shelf, and the ‘Mihrab-e Ketab Sundays’ program.”

He mentioned: “In 2025 (1404) as well, by the end of the first half of the year, a total of 22,606,000 Tomans has been spent on book purchases and holding reading circles. The investment amount in the first six months of 2025 was almost three times the total cost of 2024.”

Nejati emphasized: “Thanks to the attention and benevolence of Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS), the need of the mosque and neighborhood residents for books has noticeably increased, and this has led to a significant growth in expenses and investment in this area.”

He added: “Despite this, it must be acknowledged that with all these investments, there is still a great shortage in the field of books and the diversity of the book-reading demographic in the library, which, God willing, will be compensated in the future through the blessings of Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) and the cooperation of the mosque and neighborhood residents.”

The CEO of Roshd Foundation said: “Temporary suspension of loans for toddlers is one of the measures taken during exam periods, due to academic conditions and the focus of toddlers, teenagers, and youth on academic preparation. Book loans for this age group are temporarily canceled.”

He added: “The initiation of book loans from Javaneh store will also be implemented starting early December (Dey). Book loans will begin through the Javaneh Organic Store to make access to books easier and wider for members.”

From Daily Reading Circles to Book Introductions After Prayers

Nejati stated: “Reading circles at Imam Hassan Mojtaba (AS) Library are held daily with the aim of promoting reading culture and strengthening individual skills, free of charge and without financial support from any specific organization or institution. These circles are held for all age groups and on all days, and include training in teamwork and organizational work.”

He continued: “Also, group sessions for exchanging ideas and discussions about various books are held. These circles are continuously organized to safeguard cultural values and strengthen the bond among members, with the goal of creating an educational and cultural space for everyone.”

The CEO of Roshd Foundation said: “Youth and teenager reading circles started their activities in July 2023 (Tir 1402). Toddler reading circles began in October 2023 (Aban 1402), and adult reading circles started in February 2024 (Esfand 1402) and are still ongoing. In addition, every night after prayers, the Imam (prayer leader) introduces a book and reads parts of it to the worshippers.”

Mother-Daughter Reading Circle

He continued: “The ‘Mom-Daughter Reading Gathering’ program is one of our weekly programs, designed by the women’s unit of the complex and held with the participation of mothers and daughters interested in books. It has been very well received by mothers, and so far, over 100 people have registered for this program.”

Nejati explained: “The method is such that, for example, in the second session of this course, mothers in this mosque first study parts of a book on spouse relations in a workshop and discuss it with the relevant expert.”

He added: “Our dear daughters, alongside reading in every age group, also have various cultural and educational programs, such as storytelling with books accompanied by puppet shows and painting, making crafts related to the read book and scissor work, group concentration games for learning teamwork, painting with gouache using tools, speed concentration games, group intellectual games discussing book topics, and expressing their educational points.”

The CEO of Roshd Foundation said: “In the women’s section, we also have the ‘Serat’ Sisters’ Reading Group, which currently has 18 active members. With enthusiasm, after studying new books on a specific topic, they embark on a journey into the world of books together and enrich Islamic thoughts through brainstorming and discussion. In their last gathering, this group studied the books ‘Khun-e Deli Ke La’l Shod’ (Heart’s Blood That Became Ruby) and ‘Ensan 250 Sale’ (The 250-Year-Old Man), and have now moved on to the new book ‘Tarh-e Koli Andisheh-ye Islami dar Quran’ (General Outline of Islamic Thought in the Quran).”