No one knows Qom and its al Hawza al Ilmiya except those who have studied there; it is a difficult place to explore for strangers. One must remain in it for years to discover its hidden secrets, diversity and the truth about what goes on within it. Despite its fame, knowledge about its ideological trends is scarce, especially in light of the fact that Qom and al Hawza al Ilmiya are constantly changing. Hujjat al Islam Mohsen Kadivar may be the best person to speak about the hawza; he studied there for over 17 years, moving in the circles of...