TEHRAN -- The International Poetry Festival “Prophet of Mercy” unfolds at a poignant crossroads—1,500 years after the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a figure whose life remains a wellspring of mercy, justice, and enduring spiritual resonance. 
The festival, anchored in a deep reverence for his legacy, beckons poets to respond with words that transcend mere praise, reaching toward the profound ethical and human truths embedded in his story.
Muhammad Ali Rabbani, Director General of Scientific and Academic Cooperation at the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, frames this endeavor as more than commemoration. 
It is a call to weave poetic voices into a tapestry of solidarity across the Islamic world, particularly between Iran and the Arab nations. 
“Our hope,” Rabbani explains, “is to channel the Prophet’s message of compassion and resistance to injustice into a force that strengthens communal bonds and revives a collective conscience.”
The festival’s thematic palette is wide, inviting exploration of the Prophet’s exemplary ethics, his embodiment as “Mercy to the Worlds,” his pursuit of social justice, and his role as a unifier. 
Resistance, truth, and the defense of the oppressed emerge as urgent motifs, demanding not just admiration but critical engagement—an invitation to poets to excavate the depths of these themes within contemporary contexts.
Open to entries in Persian and Arabic, the festival privileges linguistic and cultural plurality, reflecting the diverse ummah it seeks to unify. Prize money, ranging from $2,500 to $1,000, underscores a serious commitment to fostering poetic creation as a form of cultural and spiritual dialogue.
Submissions close on October 7, 2025, with an awards ceremony slated for November in Tehran and Isfahan—cities where history and poetry have long danced in intimate conversation. 
Rabbani’s closing appeal lingers: “The best poems come from the heart and speak to the heart.”