According to Atabe News, Hojjatoleslam Hossein Shariati-Nejad, Deputy for Islamic Propagation at the holy Razavi Shrine, made the remarks at a press conference held on the morning of November 1, 2026, at the Office of the Deputy for Sacred Sites within the holy shrine, attended by members of the media.

He said: “The I‘tikaf ceremony is one of the influential acts of worship that has developed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution. In recent years, it has received widespread public interest, particularly among the younger generation.”

Referring to the role of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution in expanding this religious tradition, he added that the Leader’s emphasis on I‘tikaf helped promote the practice throughout society. Today, this spiritual opportunity can strengthen people’s relationship with God and deepen their religious beliefs.

The Works of the Martyred Leader at the Center of Educational and Spiritual Programs

Emphasizing Goharshad Grand Mosque’s potential to become a model venue for I‘tikaf, Hojjatoleslam Shariati-Nejad also described the expansion of this tradition across the Islamic world as necessary.

He said: “This year’s I‘tikaf slogan has been selected as ‘I‘tikaf: The Strategy of the Martyred Imam and the Mission of the Awakened Ummah.’ Cultural and educational programs have also been designed accordingly, so that participants can become more familiar with the life, conduct, and thought of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution while benefiting from the spiritual opportunity of I‘tikaf.”

Goharshad Mosque I‘tikaf to Accommodate 3,000 Participants

Explaining this year’s cultural programs, the Deputy for Islamic Propagation said that the published works of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution—including his books on Quranic exegesis and works bearing his written endorsements or annotations—will be made available to participants in study areas and library sections.

According to him, one book has also been selected as the central text for the program, around which study activities and a book-reading competition will be organized. Special programs tailored to the needs of teenagers have also been planned.

Hojjatoleslam Shariati-Nejad added that other activities will include educational and spiritual discussion circles, question-and-answer sessions with religious scholars and experts, Quran recitation gatherings, and sessions devoted to reflection on and interpretation of the Sahifa Sajjadiya and Nahj al-Balagha.

Educational and spiritual sessions will also be held with approximately 50 participants after the noon and afternoon prayers and the sunset and night prayers. Experts will respond to participants’ questions on matters of faith, religious rulings, and other issues relevant to their needs.

In addition, two nightly sessions addressing current affairs and global arrogance will be held at 9 p.m. at Goharshad Grand Mosque. Participants will also take part in public gatherings and collective programs.

Special Programs for the Occasions of the Month of Rajab

He further explained that a welcoming ceremony for the participants will be held on the night of the 13th of Rajab, coinciding with the eve of the birth anniversary of Imam Ali (AS).

A special program commemorating the anniversary of the martyrdom of Lady Zaynab (SA) is also scheduled for the night of the 15th of Rajab.

On the 15th of Rajab, participants will attend Friday prayers, after which the devotional rites of Umm Dawud will begin. The supplication will be recited with the participation of Hajj Mahdi Sorouri at around 4 p.m. The I‘tikaf program will conclude after the sunset and night prayers.

Registration for I‘tikaf to Begin on November 3

At the same press conference, Amin Behnam, Deputy Custodian for Sacred Sites at Astan Quds Razavi, announced that the capacity for I‘tikaf participants would increase to approximately 3,000.

He said that, by making use of the available spaces at Goharshad Grand Mosque, this year approximately 1,500 participants will be accommodated in the upper-level prayer halls and another 1,500 in the mosque’s underground facilities.

Preparation of the underground section, particularly the provision of heating and cooling facilities, is underway in cooperation with the Organization for Construction and Maintenance of the Holy Razavi Shrine.

He added that registration will open on Tuesday, November 3, and continue through November 12.

The lottery will be held on November 20, and the results will be announced by text message on November 24. Those interested can register through the Razavi I‘tikaf website.

Referring to the widespread استقبال of last year’s I‘tikaf at Goharshad Mosque, Behnam said that approximately 96,000 people had registered to participate, nearly 70 percent of whom were women.

He added that around 3,600 applicants from 27 countries had also taken part in the registration process, with the largest numbers coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

The Deputy Custodian for Sacred Sites further explained that, in terms of geographical distribution, Khorasan Razavi Province had the highest number of applicants, with approximately 59,000 registrations. Tehran Province followed with around 9,000 applicants, Isfahan with approximately 8,500, and Yazd with about 2,140.

Emphasizing the increase in this year’s capacity, Behnam said: “One of the frequent requests from those interested in participating has always been why the capacity of I‘tikaf at Goharshad Mosque is limited. In previous years, due to cold weather and existing limitations, it was not possible to use the courtyards and the Maqsureh porch to accommodate participants, so we had to limit capacity to the mosque’s prayer halls.

“This year, with the completion of the underground facilities at Goharshad Grand Mosque and the efforts of the Organization for Construction and Maintenance of the Holy Razavi Shrine, plans have been made to nearly double the I‘tikaf capacity.”

He noted that girls aged 12 and above and boys aged 14 and above are eligible to register. Although applicants in previous registrations ranged in age from 10 to 81, the minimum ages for participation in the lottery will be 12 for girls and 14 for boys.

Behnam recalled that I‘tikaf at Goharshad Grand Mosque began in 1958, through the efforts of the late Hajj Agha Abedzadeh, in the Tabrizi prayer hall. Since 1993, it has been held in a centralized format.

Increasing the number of participants and strengthening the educational, spiritual, and cultural programs are among the organizers’ key approaches this year to improving the quality of this act of worship at the holy Razavi Shrine.