The ECO Cultural Institute hosted a consultative meeting on July 14, 2026, themed "Collection, Editing, and Publication of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani’s Manuscripts." This specialized meeting was attended by a group of distinguished scholars and researchers from ECO member states to examine strategies for reviving and promoting the written heritage of this great mystic and thinker.
Ambassador Mohammad Hassan, President of the ECO Cultural Institute, in his opening remarks, described the gathering not merely as a publishing project, but as "the beginning of an important intellectual and cultural journey" to recover a shared civilizational heritage. Highlighting Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani's persona as a mystic, philosopher, and social reformer, he asserted that Hamadani’s enduring message of linking spirituality, justice, and service to humanity is essential today for strengthening unity and dialogue in the region.
In this meeting, Dr. Nizomiddin Zahedi, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan in Tehran, while describing Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani as "the link between hearts and civilizations," considered his thought a beacon for guidance and salvation that can address the challenges of the contemporary world. Emphasizing that Hamadani’s heritage is a spiritual asset for the cohesion of regional nations, he stated that recognizing the dimensions of this great mystic’s personality is essential for strengthening cultural ties; therefore, he presented a set of practical proposals to achieve this important goal and further promote Hamadani's ideas.
Furthermore, Dr. Akbar Irani, Director of the Written Heritage Research Center, noting the identification of 105 of Hamadani's works in Iran, Turkey, and the subcontinent, emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive and integrated examination of these works. He cited issues such as the author's lack of titling his works, complexities in incorrect attributions (e.g., confusing works with Khwaja Mohammad Parsa), the absence of ancient manuscripts predating the 10th century, and title overlaps with other writers as the main challenges facing researchers. In conclusion, Dr. Irani underscored the necessity of regional cooperation and the role of the Written Heritage Research Center in compiling a comprehensive and documented collection of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani’s works.
Dr. Mohammad Soori, faculty member and Head of the Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology at the Iranian Institute of Philosophy, in his speech titled "The Necessity of Codicology and Critical Editing of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani’s Works," criticized the current state of editing these works and stressed the need to collect all manuscripts and perform scientific critical editing to resolve ambiguities in the list of his works.
Dr. Seyed Reza Bagherian Movahed, researcher of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani’s works, also emphasized the tradition of "blending taste and knowledge" in Hamadani’s heritage, considering his rhythmic prose and creative use of "annexation metaphors" (Iste,areh Tashbihi) a platform for transferring deep mystical concepts to the young generation, and insisted on the promotion of ancient texts.
In another part of the meeting, Dr. Aref Noshahi, a Pakistani manuscript expert and researcher, in his video speech, while pointing to Hamadani's effective role in spreading mystical knowledge in the subcontinent, especially in Kashmir, stated that Pakistani researchers have been pioneers in codicology and editing his works through persistent efforts. He also, by introducing his article on the brilliant research of Dr. Mohammad Riaz, considered the personality of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani to be more than just a historical figure, but a key factor for convergence and strengthening cultural ties among regional countries.
Additionally, Dr. Abdulvali Sharifzade, a Tajik historian and researcher, in his video speech, by explaining the distinguished position of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani among the people of Tajikistan, praised his historical and literary role in regional developments and recited a portion of a poem he has composed about this great mystic.
At the end of this meeting, which was moderated by Mr. Shahmansour Shahmirza, an ECO expert from Tajikistan, the ECO Cultural Institute expressed hope for the creation of a permanent network of researchers in the field of Hamadani studies and emphasized the need for continued regional cooperation to collect, edit, and publish the complete works of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani based on the oldest and most accurate manuscripts.