According to the Public Relations Office of the university, a number of Indian seminary and university students met with Hujat al-Islam Sayed Abulhasan Navab at the University of Religions and Denominations. In this friendly meeting, Hujat al-Islam Navab welcomed the Indian guests and mentioned: “I used to live in India before you were born. I have been to most cities of this large country and have lived with the nice people of India for about 6 months. I feel extremely attached to India and its people. If one day I am given a chance to have only one last trip, I will choose India.” The President of the university added: “India is a sea of understanding, knowledge, and humanity; it has a distinguished religious status, and only few countries may be found to be in a similar position.”

Hujat al-Islam Navab pointed to the subject of Islamic unity and the proximity of Islamic schools of thoughts, adding: “today, the Islamic unity and the proximity of the Islamic schools of thought are the priorities in the Muslim World. If unity and proximity are necessary everywhere else, they are the most important in India. It must be taken into greater consideration. Shiite and Sunni brothers should be able to have good relations with other citizens.”

Hujat al-Islam Navab, a seminary and university professor, pointed to the free religious atmosphere in India and stated that the religious freedom in India is not comparable with that in Pakistan. Great figures have been raised in India thanks to this freedom. We do not see the Pakistani crisis in India. Sayed Abulhasan Navab advised the Indian students: “after graduation, you will be spread around the globe; your propagation is universal. Thus, you must know that unity and proximity are the most necessary matters. You must help the Shiite and Sunni brothers form the Unified Muslim Community, which is desired by Rasul-Allah (PBUH).”

He also added: “regarding the proximity, we are not supposed to draw back from our true Shiite beliefs. We fearlessly announce this fact loud that the right of the “Commander of the Faithful”, Imam Ali (a.s) was usurped in Saqifah; however, we must follow our Mawla Ali (a.s) in dealing with this issue. Although his right was usurped, he remained patient for the sake of maintaining Islam and the Muslim community.”

He continued: “we have established the first school of Shiite Studies at the University of Religions and Denominations to introduce the true Shiite doctrines. Today, the graduates of this school, while considering the conditions of the present day, are propagating and doing scholarly work around the globe. Hujat al-Islam Navab said to the Indian students: “you are highly respected and noble soldiers of Imam al-Mhadi (aj). Know that Islam is the liveliest religion in the world.” He again emphasized the importance of Islamic unity and continued: “Islam is a trust in our hands; while unified, we can preserve it, or may Allah forbid, we may destroy it if we are not unified.”

Also at the end of this friendly meeting, the President of URD answered the questions of the students.