We are not the pioneer wayfarers on the life's highway; before us many caravans had already passed through it. Therefore, the sweet and bitter experiences gained by others could be extremely useful for making arrangements of our current journey. They were able to identify their path and method for movement under the sun of Divine illumination and the able guidance of prophets. To repeat, the bitter experiences of others, in our own lives certainly is not a desirable thing rather we should search for those righteous travelers who were familiar with this path. We must learn lessons from the pains and endeavors of the pioneers to move forward wisely and conscientiously on this path.

The younger generations, who are just starting this journey, more than others require to learn about the great pious Islamic personalities. They must consider and analyze the benevolent careers of these pioneers and should learn how to receive blessing for succeeding in the life's struggle.

These saintly figures manifestations of faith, knowledge, and freedom – are like the traffic signs on the road. The position and resolution taken by these Divine scholars, exalted wise jurisprudents, and decorated ascetics, act as bright illuminated object which breaks the darkness of night and clears the dust and other obstacles from our path. They warn the wayfarers from the dangers of thieves’ bandits, narrowness of the road, falling of the rocks, and dangerous turns etc.

Therefore, it is not beyond wisdom, that the Holy Qur'an - God's lost revelation -continuously repeats the life stories of the most exalted Divine prophets, such as Abraham (‘a), Ismail (‘a), Noah(‘a), Hud (‘a), Salih (‘a), Moses (‘a), Job (‘a), and Muhammad (S), as well as points out the characteristics of immigrant, helpers, and disciples; because it wants to teach the believers the do's and don'ts of the life by introducing them as models of perfection. Thus, it trains the believers for performance of Divine righteous obligations by reciting for the sweet stories of the legend.

"Meeting with the Pious" Series - a precious souvenir for the Islamic Ummah at this time of intense rural onslaught by the enemies of Islam -- is the outcome the painstaking efforts of a group of students from the Theological Learning Center of Qum, who participated in the historical cultural research project, sponsored by the Baqir al­Uloom Research Institute at Qum.

The institute invited all the thinkers, writers, and intellectuals to participate in this project. Simultaneously all the writer-scholars from the Theological Learning Centers were approached for introducing these great Shi’i scholars to the new generations. There is a critical need that the children of Islam should be made familiar with these perfect models of faith, knowledge, struggle, piety, efforts, and endeavors.

Hujjat-ul-Islam Javad Mahmood Mohadasi an eminent scholar volunteered himself to lead this caravan, and a group of scholars and religious students joined him for this pilgrimage. The souvenir of the cultural pilgrimage consisted compilation of political social, and educational biographies of more than fifty great righteous personalities, some of them have already been published by the Islamic propagation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while the remaining are being readied for publication.

We hope, may God accept pilgrimage, and bless the younger generations with opportunities to become familiar with these righteous and saintly personalities, and may unite this caravan with the esteemed and righteous on Day of Resurrection. In the end, we look forward lo receive valuable comments from respected on the following address:

Baqir al-Uloom Research Institute

P.O. Box 37185 – 135, QUM

Islamic Republic Of Iran.