Four Islamic Scholars and an Architect as Guests of Ayatollah Milani

Host: Seyyed Fazl Hosseini Milani. Guests: Allameh Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Tabatabai, Engineer Mohammad Ali Shahrastani, Seyyed Javad Shahrastani, Sheikh Aqa Bozorg Tehrani, and Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Selected music: 'Rabbana' performed by Mohammad Reza Shajarian, with Ney by Hassan Nahid. Dinner menu: Sabzi Polo with fish. This week's host is Ayatollah Seyyed Fazl Hosseini Milani, one of the most renowned Shia clerics in England, belonging to one of Iran's oldest clerical families. His grandfather, Ayatollah Mohammad Hadi Milani, was a major religious authority in Mashhad. Milani completed his religious studies in Najaf and later obtained a PhD in Islamic philosophy from Oxford University. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Ayatollah Khoei Institute in London and serves as the congregation leader there. He follows the policies of Ayatollah Khoei and Ayatollah Sistani and believes that Islam is compatible with democracy. He has issued joint statements with the Archbishop of Canterbury and other religious leaders condemning Islamic extremism. I have come to see Ayatollah Milani in his office in London. Ayatollah Milani has invited Allameh Tabatabai, Engineer Mohammad Ali Shahrastani, Seyyed Javad Shahrastani, Sheikh Aqa Bozorg Tehrani, and Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr for dinner. He considers Allameh Tabatabai to be a rare figure in terms of culture, spirituality, and awareness of philosophical schools worldwide. He regards Tabatabai's 'Tafsir al-Mizan' as the best Quranic commentary available. Engineer Shahrastani is recognized for his engineering genius, including the construction of the Mashhad railway station without columns. Seyyed Javad Shahrastani is noted for his extensive contributions to various intellectual and charitable institutions. Sheikh Aqa Bozorg Tehrani is celebrated for his bibliographic work on Shia literature. Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr is acknowledged as a prominent figure in Islamic philosophy and has published extensively in English. Milani emphasizes the importance of these figures in promoting Islamic culture and spirituality.