Questions about the Life in the Hawza of Qum These questions are for the purpose of gaining a multifaceted

understanding of life for students in the Hawza. It is not meant to be an expos or something that seeks to weed out only the negativities. Rather, I want to write an article or create a presentation for youth in the US who is interested in studying at the Hawza, curious about it, or simply does not know enough about it. I want to give them a holistic understanding of what moving to Qum for years to study entails, including the difficulties and the amazing benefits. I am also using this website for information: http://www.studyinqum.com/Home/StudyingInQum/WhatIsItLike Many American students cannot visualize the Hawza or Qum, because of minimal exposure to it or information about life there. In order to give them that ability to visualize it and think of it as a real possibility for themselves or others, I want to create this presentation. Another accomplishment of this might be a increased familiarity on the part of youth of the experiences of the Alim whom they admire, and what they have gone though. My goal is to gather information, real life experiences and stories, advice, as well as multimedia like pictures, scanned copies of notes and books, etc from those who have studied in the Hawza and have gone on to become Alims, or not, including women, and families of those who studied. I hope for responses from all those who I interview, and for honesty in relating life there. I am looking less for a vague description or suggestion for others to also go to Hawza, but rather personal experiences of individuals. I also wish to gather tidbits of information that may seem trivial but may help to create a richer and more detailed picture. I hope that any funny or interesting stories or incidences will be related as this helps personalize the experience. Gathering and compiling the experiences of various Ulema will take a long time but I think it will leave a sort of legacy for the next generation. As the world becomes more secular, and as times change, and even as the Hawza changes, this might be something that could inspire youth even in the future. Lastly, I hope that family and friends of those studying there will also answer some questions about their experiences. These questions can be answered in as much detail as you wish. I would prefer details but it depends on what you are comfortable with. Questions can be skipped, and if it is because they are offensive or rude in any way please let me know so I dont ask them again to any other Ulema or people. Many of these questions are personal, and I understand if anyone is uncomfortable answering the. Nevertheless, I hope you do because they will contribute immensely to this project. If there are a few questions that you want to answer but dont necessarily want to attach to your name you can write (anonymous) before answering them. If I choose to use it in an article or presentation, it will be quoted as: A student of the Hawza said, or this is what a wife of a student related to us, etc. And your name will not be revealed to anyone else. I would appreciate your candor and all details that you can provide. The finished article or presentation will be sent to you. Please take up as many pages as you need. The more the better. Thank you so much.

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What led you to want to study in the Hawza, and what were the reasons for you to go? Please explain

Did you study at any University or try to pursue another career path before going? What made you change your mind?

What was the reaction of your family and close friends when you decided you wanted to go? Was it an easy process, or a struggle? Please explain

How did your community react, and were there any challenges you faced in that aspect?

Did you face challenges in tying up loose threads in life before leaving for Hawza, or what was that experience like? (Paying off student loans, getting forgiveness from people etc) Please explain

Which school/seminary did you choose in Qum and why?

Please relate the experiences of changing your life and leaving everything behind in order to move to Qum. What were the initial days like when you arrived? Please explain

What were the housing and food arrangements like? Did you have roommates, and how were the other students that you met in those initial days? Did your views shift over the next few weeks? Please relate all relating experiences or stories.

What were the first classes like? What were your initial reactions of studies in Qum. Did classes follow a similar format to those in the West or your home country? Was any adjustment required? I have heard the first year is spent in studying Farsi- was that so? Did you already have an understanding of the language, and what your experience to adjusting to studies and life in a new language?

Were you married at the time? If so, what do you feel was your familys adjustment experience?

Please describe a typical day of life in the Hawza after you settled in.

Please describe your teachers and the ulema who taught classes there during your time there. What were they like, who did you develop close bonds with, and what were their teaching styles like? What kinds of classes and learning methods did you like best? Which subjects were you most interested in.

Describe your social life. Did you, or your family, easily make connections and friends despite the language gap? Did you go anywhere for entertainment ever, including movies or restaurants? Was it difficult to get used to the lack of choices for places to go, or had you not expected it? Please relate your honest feelings and experiences. What was life like outside of studying, essentially?

As time went on, how did your classes change? Were you in any kind of study track or study program? How is the program set up (or how was it during the time you were there)? Describe the differences, if any, and the quality of your studies as a beginner and after you had been there some years. What is the process of specialization, (for example, in history or hadith) that many alim do? Please detail the curriculum and study programs in the Hawza.

Did you face any discrimination in Iran for being an outsider, from those in the Hawza and out? Do you know of anyone else who ever had? What were the main difficulties of being a foreigner in Qum, Iran in your opinion? Do you feel that things have changed now?

What other difficulties did you face as a student in Qum? If you werent married when you went, did you get married during that time? Was that difficult, being a student of the Hawza? How did you family back home handle it? Did you, or others you know of, face financial, social, psychological, emotional, or political problems or difficulties during their time there, or after? What was your emotional state when first beginning or studies, and did it change later on? Were there psychological pressures, as well as emotional ones? Did you or others you know of suffer from lonliness, homesickness, depression, doubt, etc? Were there people or services available in Qum or through the Hawza to help young students with this, or was there a stigma?

Any other negatives to life in the Hawza? Or anything you would want a person to know about before coming? Anything that is commonly thought of as a negative, that you would like to say it not that bad, or dispel any myths regarding Hawza life?

What spiritual and religious benefits, including the obvious ones of studying Islamic knowledge, did you gain?

What were your favorite parts of studying in the Hawza?

What were your favorite parts of life in Qum and you experiences in general of living in a Shia Islamic country?

How do you feel you may have changed as a result of those years?

Please provide any details that you might not have mentioned about your years in Qum. Any advice or words of warnings? What kind of people are best in your opinion for studying at Hawza? Is it suited for certain personality types more than others?

What was your experience after leaving/finishing your studies? What is the experience of other Alims you may know? Do most become Resident Alims, go to the West, or to their home countries, or act freelance? How many do you think try to keep up a day job or alternate profession in addition to being Islamic Scholars?

What is your opinion or recommendation on studying something else or pursuing an alternate career path before or after attending Hawza? Perhaps to have supplemental income so that one wont need to make a living from being an alim? What do you think of making a livelihood from teaching about Islam?

How do you feel the Hawza has changed since you were there or in general (such as since the Iranian Revolution or after the Internet became big, etc)?

Any historical points you want to mention regarding the history and traditions of the Hawza over the past hundreds of years?

How do you feel about students who come for short term studies, or studies for selfenrichment, rather than to become Alim Ud Deen? Do you have any experiences relating to it?

Why are there so many different Hawzas and Seminaries in Qum? Are there ones that are superior, or any that are weaker? What about those in Najaf and Lebanon?

Please include any addition information or stories that didnt fit into the other questions (if you can also attach any of your pictures from that time they would be helpful, even if they are just of the area, housing or classes):