Imam Reza Shrine hosts Turkish students for mid‑Sha‘ban celebrations

A group of female students from Istanbul University took part in the mid‑Sha‘ban celebrations and the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi during their visit to Imam Reza Shrine, in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad. 
Their participation came as part of a series of cultural and educational programs held under the auspices of the Central Asia section of the Office for Non‑Iranian Pilgrims Affairs in Melal Portico.
The students, who stayed in Mashhad for three days, attended the shrine’s festive gatherings marking the mid-Sha’ban holidays, the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. 
On the first day, they joined a special program titled “Hijab: A Jewel for Preserving Women’s Dignity.” In the session, the concepts of verse 31 of the Quranic verse, Nur, and the philosophy of hijab in Quranic teachings were explained and discussed.
According to the religious scholar Roghayeh Sadeqi, “Hijab safeguards a woman’s dignity and strengthens the foundation of the family”.
On the second day, the group attended another educational program titled “Guardianship and Expectation: A Guiding Light for the Ummah,” which explored the role of spiritual leadership and the concept of awaiting the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance). 
The third day included participation in a session titled “Guardianship of the Jurist: Continuity of Guidance in the Era of Occultation,” which examined the continuation of religious leadership during the Imam’s absence.
Throughout their visit, the students also benefited from the spiritual atmosphere of the shrine and joined the celebratory gatherings marking the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi. 
At the conclusion of the third day’s program, the Office Non‑Iranian Pilgrims Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi presented the group with blessed souvenirs from Imam Reza Shrine as a commemorative gift for the festivities.