Being held at the University of Religions and Denominations (URD), from August 22^nd to Sep 2^nd, the third international short-term course of Shiite studies ended.

The course was warmly welcomed by a satisfying number of university professors, researchers and students from all over the world including U.S, Germany,  Austria, South Africa, Lebanon, Japan, South Korea and China, who mostly experienced their first trip to Iran.

The program focused on Twelver Shi’ism however, participants also learned about other main branches of Shi’ism too.

As to the material of the course that the applicants were taught on subjects such as: history and origins, movements, rituals, methodology, futurology, thought sources, Ijtihad (religious authority), doctrines and principles of common beliefs like Tawhid (monotheism), Prophecy, Ma’aad (hereafter), and specific beliefs such as Imamate and Adl (Justice), as well as the doctrine of the Awaited Mahdi and political thought of Shiism during their tightly scheduled program.

The course was not merely an educational one and the participants also got involved in some fascinating extracurricular programs including an awesome tour of an acquaintance of Tehran, Isfahan and Mahallat in addition to visiting some historical sights of Qom, the hosting city.

All the participants were also granted a scientific certificate of the course.