Islamic Research Foundation

The Islamic Research Foundation (briefly known as IRF) was established on Nov 12, 1984. On May 9,1985, it was registered under No. 178 in Companies Registration Office in Mashhad, and started its activities right away. At present IRF is operating as a research and scholarly center affiliated to the Astan Quds Razavi Supreme Cultural Council,supervised by IRF's Board of Directors, and with the cooperation of researchers from Hawzah (Islamic Seminary) and universities in different research departments, aiming at the realization of the cultural goals of the Astan Quds Razavi.
This cultural institution was established by Astan Quds Razavi to carry out researches in the different fields of Islamic sciences as well as render cultural services to expand and propagate the cultural level of the society. With the endeavours of the scholars from the Islamic seminaries and universities, this institution has taken decisive steps to fulfil its cultural goals.

Organization and the Board of Director
Astan Quds Razavi is responsible for appointing members of the Board of Directors and the Managing Director of IRF as well as drawing its general policy. The Board of Directors consists of professors from Hawzah and university who undertake the evaluation of research projects and the necessary follow-up for their implemetation, regulating the budget and the general expenses.

The Managing Director
Implementation of the board of director's projects and plans is undertaken by the Managing Director. In order to carry out the current affairs and to materialize IRF's projects, the finance and administration deputy and the research deputy operate under the direct supervision of the Managing Director.

The Finance and Administration Deputy
All the administrative and staff affairs are taken care of by the deputy.

The Research Deputy
Research activities are carried out under the supervision of the research deputy.

Academic Status of the Staff
At present about 170 people are working and researching in different research and administrative departments.At present 135 scholars in the following departments like The Holy Qur'an, Hadith (traditions) philosophy and theology, Islamic history, jurisprudence, Abaqat al-Anwar, Islamic economy, bibliography, Islamic texts edition, biographies, Bayaz I-Ibrahimi, astronomy, geography of Islamic countries, Arabic translation, European languages translation (English, French, Germany), Nahjul Balagha, children and youth are engaged in scientific research.
Among these,70% hold university degrees ranging from Bachelors to Ph.Ds,50 % of whom have received Hawzah (IslamicSeminary) training and the rest have studied at universities.

Aims
IRF's main activities according to its articles of association are as follows:
1)Scholarly researches towards promotion and dissemination of Islamic Culture through formation of research departments.
2)Associating and mobilizing researchers interested in cooperating with IRF.
3)Encouraging and developing research activities in Hawzah and Universities.
4)Endeavours in strengthening scholarly and educational potentials of cultural institutions and higher education centers.
5)Spread of Islamic arts and familiarization with it.
6)Setting up educational courses in order to train researchers.
7)Holding various scientific seminars and conferences.
8)Publication of Islamic and scholarly works.
9)Publication of periodicals in different languages.
10)Supporting researches and projects in line with IRF's goals.
11)Academic relations with other research centers both at home and abroad.
And taking any measures deemed necessary for achieving IRF's aims.
During the last eighteen years of its great activities this institution has published more than one thousand titles of books in different Islamic sciences. Some of the works published by this esteemed foundation has won the following awards and distinctions:
1)"The Book of the Year" of Islamic Republic of Iran (6 Titles).
2)"The Selected Book for the University" (7 Titles)
3)Attaining Appreciation Certificates from the Quran exhibitions held in the years 1994 and 1996.
4)"Best Publisher of the year" 1994.
5)Successfully conducting six international seminars and congress in the fields of the geography of the Islamic world, rural migration, book and librarianship in Mashhad and Tehran.

Reference Library
This library, consisting of over 50,000 books and an archive of internal and foreign Journals, is used as a source of information in line with the research projects followed up in IRF.

Computer Center
The computer center is engaged in providing educational- research Services to the reserchers; setting up data banks in research fields proposed by IRF planning and implementing the required computerized systems; contacting world- wide and local networks, etc.

Publications and Distinctions
Publication of 700 titles in 1220 volumes by the early of 2001.Sixteen books were awarded prize for the Book of the Year of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as being selected in academic circles, the Holy Quran fairs, Book week contests, Children Book festival, Ferdowsi Festival, etc.
Convening National and International Conferences and Seminars as follows
International Seminar on Geography of Islamic countries

Seminar on Rural Migration
The First International Islamic Economic Research Conference
The Second International Islamic Economic Research Conference
International Seminar on Silk Road (with the cooperation of UNESCO)
Books and Libraries in Islamic Civilization International Congress
International Congress of Wakf (Endowment)[to be held in near future]
The Centre of Khorasanology has recently been merged with Islamic Research Foundation. This centre was active in the research about Imam Reza (A.S.), history and historical geography, folklore and anthropology, social research, luminaries, history of civilization and archaeology, joint cultural studies between Khorasan, traditional arts of Khorasan. This research is now being carried out in the Islamic Research Foundation.
The Centre of Khorasanology in the past conducted many seminars and symposiums on different occasions attended by local and foreign scholars and it has also published many books and a specialized journal.
"Meshkat" is the quarterly specialized journal published regularly by Islamic Research Foundation. Till now 78 issues of this research journal have been published.
Postal Address:
Iran, Mashhad, PO.Box: 91735-366
E-mail: info@islamic-rf.org
Name Bonyad Pazhouheshay-e- Islami
Tel: +98-511-842 1033
+98-511-842 7082
Fax: +98-511-842 7081
Location:
Tabarsi, Underground Ring Road to the Holy Shrine Mashhad.
Telephone: 0098-511-2253001,3; Fax: 2230005
E-mail: info@islamic-rf.org
Website: http://www.islamic-rf.org