The Cultural Director General of the Endowments and Charitable Affairs Organization said: If the Quran is limited to only a ministry or a television network, it will be removed from the context of social life and will remain abandoned. He considered the solution to be the Quranization of all areas, from universities and the economy to the media and cultural policymaking.
We spoke with Reza Moammi Moghadam, Director General of Culture of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, regarding the change of the position of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Department of Quran and Family from a deputy to the Supreme Center for Quran and Family and the announcement of the ministry’s new organizational chart.
What is your opinion on the change of the position of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Department of Quran and Family to a Supreme Center for Quran and Family?
Making the government more agile is one of the general policies of the administrative system, but transforming the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Department of Quran and Family into a “Quranic Center” is not considered a weakness or a problem in itself. The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Department of Quran and Family can only be successful if it gains executive power and influence in all departments and policies and makes the institutions Quranic; otherwise, simply changing the title is just changing the name of the bureaucracy without changing the reality.
With numerous institutions that have been launched in the name of the Quran, why is the emergence and emergence of the Quran in society so weak?
Although these structures were formed in the name of the Quran, in practice they have fueled hidden secularism. Secularism is not necessarily the elimination of religion, but rather the containment and confinement of religion. When the Quran is reduced to a television channel or administrative office, it is practically removed from the context of social life and major decision-making, and this noble verse becomes the example: “And the Messenger said, O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as a forsaken one” (Furqan: 30)
How does this policy manifest itself?
The example is clear; the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, by launching the Quran Network and even the Ofoq Network, and the Ministry of Guidance, by establishing the Office of the Quran and the Family, have practically conveyed the message that “O you who are concerned about religion, these networks are for you; But have nothing to do with the other networks or the home theater network that is supervised by Satir,” meaning that the Quran receives a “license to operate,” but is absent in other areas such as series, films, education, and media policymaking.
What is the consequence of this view?
This trend has four characteristics: 1. Institutional enclosure of the Quran. 2. Reduction of religion to a cultural issue. 3. Festivalism and bureaucracy. 4. Separation from the real areas of power and management. This means that religion exists on the surface, but is inwardly a show; what Imam Khomeini (RA) called “the alienation of the Quran.” Martyr Motahari also warned that the main danger is the culturalization of religion, not its socialization.
From the perspective of sociologists, when religion is present in the showcase, but absent in social reality, it has become a museum. Unfortunately, we are facing the same situation today.
What is the solution?
The right way is not to create new institutions for the Quran. Existing institutions must become Quranic. Universities, economics, and banking must be redesigned based on Quranic teachings such as the prohibition of usury and economic justice.
The national media must have a Quranic spirit in all channels, not just the Quran or Ofoq networks; but in series, news, children, documentaries, and even entertainment, they must convey Quranic values. Media content must promote a healthy lifestyle, simplicity, honesty, justice, and the Quranic family, and distance itself from aristocracy, luxury, and extravagant advertising.
The Ministry of Guidance becomes Quranic when the Quran is not just a subsidiary or center, but is present in all decisions, content, policies, and resource management. This means that the Ministry of Guidance must simultaneously be constructive, supervisory, guiding, and a role model so that the Quran can be removed from the margins of bureaucracy and returned to the context of society. For example, in terms of Quranic teachings: from issuing media licenses, publishing books, cinema, and plays to cultural and artistic policies, everything must be aligned with the standards of justice, ethics, honesty, and the decriminalization of prostitution and corruption. Or the implementation of Quranic values in all cultural products: books, publications, films, series, theater, music, animation, and even advertising must be designed with the standards of the Quran and Islamic ethics.
Major cultural and social policies must also be inspired by the Quran. If this is not done, the Quran will continue to remain on the margins of bureaucracy, and that historical complaint of the Messenger of God (PBUH) remains valid and current.