Saving the Written Heritage of Shia from Iraq to Qom / How Were the Manuscript Treasures Transferred from Karbala to Iran?
The provincial service of Iran’s Book News Agency (IBNA): Personal libraries are treasures that hide history within themselves. Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Reza Ha’eri’s library in Qom is one of these valuable centers, which has gathered a unique collection of manuscripts for researchers. To hear the story of the formation and importance of this collection, we sat down for an interview with Hojjat al-Islam Seyyed Morteza Ha’eri Tabasi, the son of the library’s founder; a narrative that covers everything from concern for preserving heritage to a perilous adventure for transferring books from Iraq to Iran.
He described this collection at the beginning of the interview as the result of a deep concern and a historical sense of responsibility, saying: “The late father, Ayatollah Ha’eri, was not just looking to collect old books; he clearly saw a danger, which was the threat of destruction and dispersal of a significant part of the Shia written heritage in Iraq and Iran. The establishment of this library was a response to a cultural and religious necessity.”
Hojjat al-Islam Tabasi stated: “The idea of its formation; a sense of duty towards history and the idea of establishing the library dates back to Ayatollah Ha’eri’s field observations and concerns. In an era when many valuable manuscripts were being destroyed or made inaccessible due to neglect, he decided to take practical action.” According to Tabasi, this movement began with a personal sense of duty.
He added: “My father saw how these manuscripts were deteriorating in the corners of homes or libraries that lacked proper storage conditions. He believed that these works were trusts that should reach future generations. For this reason, with personal expense and great effort, he began purchasing and collecting these works from various cities, especially Karbala, to provide a specialized center for researchers and those interested in Islamic sciences.”
A Grand Transfer Narrative; an Operation to Save Heritage
One of the most astonishing parts of this library’s history is the story of transferring books from Iraq to Iran; an adventure that resembles a cinematic script.
The son of Ayatollah Ha’eri narrated this memory, which has been passed down through generations of the family, saying: “Transferring this volume of precious books in that era was like an impossible operation. Borders were tightly controlled, and any movement of cultural artifacts was met with high sensitivity. This great work was accomplished through the efforts and ingenuity of my esteemed great-aunt, who was a very brave and capable woman.”
He continued: “She took on the responsibility of this task. She cleverly hid the books in unconventional packages among other belongings so they would not attract the attention of officers at first glance. The entire journey was filled with anxiety. At the Khanaqin border, everything stopped for a moment, and breaths were held, but thanks to God and the influence and respect the family had in the region, this obstacle was also overcome, and the treasure safely reached Iran.”
A Treasury of Knowledge
Looking at the works of this seminary scholar, he considered the value of this library to be beyond the number of its copies, saying: “Each copy holds a world of unsaid stories. This library is not just a collection of old papers. When you open a manuscript, you are not just facing the author’s text; you encounter the scribe’s handwriting, marginalia and annotations written by students and scholars over centuries, seals of ownership from different individuals, and other mementos. All of these are living documents that narrate the history of science and culture for us.”
Tabasi reminded: “For example, there is a copy of ‘Masalik al-Afham fi Sharh Shara’i’ al-Islam’ by Shahid Thani in this collection, which was copied from reliable versions and is considered a highly dependable source for a researcher. Also, prominent works by great figures such as Allameh Majlesi like ‘Jala al-Uyun’, Sheikh Saduq, and a Persian copy of ‘Qisas al-Anbiya’ are preserved in this library, each demonstrating the depth and richness of Shia thought throughout history.”
A Living Heritage; an Invitation to New Researchers
In another part of this interview, the importance of cataloging and the future outlook of this library were mentioned. The son of the library’s founder said: “From the very beginning, efforts to introduce this treasure began. Great figures such as Ayatollah Reza Ostadi and Hojjat al-Islam Abolfazl Hafeziyan put in much effort for the initial cataloging to pave the way for researchers. This work helps researchers access their required sources faster and more accurately.”
He considered this library a heritage for all those interested in Islamic culture and addressed the young generation, stating: “Our responsibility today is to continue the path of those great figures. The doors of this library are open to all researchers, seminary students, and university students who care about Islamic heritage. We believe that research in these ancient texts strengthens our scientific and cultural identity and can provide solutions for many of today’s intellectual issues in society. We invite the young generation of researchers to view these treasures as a unique opportunity for research and discovery and to know that this path has a bright future.”
