The Center for the Revival of Heritage Organizes a Seminar “Climate Change in Iraq and Its Impact on Ancient Civilizations in Iraq.”
The Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad held a seminar on Sunday , 15/2/2026, entitled “The Conditions for Deserving the Title of ‘Scholar’ in the Narratives of Historians and Jurists.” The seminar took place in the hall of Professor Nabila Abdul-Munim Dawood and was attended by a number of professors and researchers. The lecture was presented by Lecturer Dr. Liqa Shakir Al-Sharifi, a faculty member at the Center, who discussed during her presentation the concept of the title “Scholar” in Islamic heritage. She explained that, among early scholars, this title was not مرتبطا(associated) with obtaining a formal degree or holding a professional position, but rather with a set of scientific and ethical standards established by scholars and historians in biographical and classificatory works. She presented examples from the sayings of leading imams and jurists, emphasizing the necessity of combining deep knowledge with practical application, piety, direct learning from teachers, and obtaining scholarly authorizations (ijazahs). She also clarified that scholars stipulated that anyone described as a “scholar” must possess knowledge of Qur’anic sciences, Hadith, the principles of jurisprudence, and the Arabic language, in addition to familiarity with juristic اختلاف (differences of opinion) and the ability to weigh evidence and derive rulings. She noted that these criteria formed a rigorous scholarly system for regulating legal opinions (fatwas) and protecting society from unqualified individuals assuming authoritative roles. The lecture concluded by emphasizing the need to restore the value of academic specialization and knowledge authentication, and to encourage researchers to study biographical and classificatory works as important sources for understanding the development of scientific activity. It also called for intensifying seminars and scholarly activities that help connect postgraduate students with their intellectual heritage and its well-established methodological foundations.
