TEHRAN -- Iran marked Allameh Seyyed Muhammad Hussein Tabatabaei Day on Sunday, commemorating the influential philosopher, Qur’anic scholar and author of Tafsir al-Mizan, whose intellectual legacy continues to shape Islamic philosophy and Qur’anic studies.
The annual observance falls on Aban 24 in the Iranian calendar, marking the anniversary of Tabatabaei’s passing in 1981 in Qom. 
This year’s commemoration also opened the country’s first Week of Wisdom and Philosophy, scheduled to run from November 15 to 21, bringing together academic, religious and cultural institutions to introduce his intellectual contributions to wider audiences. 
Born in 1902 in the village of Shadabad near Tabriz, Allameh Tabatabaei pursued his early religious education in Iran before travelling to Najaf, Iraq, where he studied jurisprudence, philosophy, Qur’anic interpretation and Islamic mysticism.
His education brought him into contact with prominent scholars, including Grand Ayatollah Mirza Na’ini and philosopher and mystic Seyyed Ali Qazi Tabatabaei, whose teachings profoundly influenced his intellectual and spiritual development.
After returning to Iran in 1935, he initially settled in Tabriz before moving to Qom in 1946, where he became one of the most influential teachers of Islamic philosophy and Qur’anic interpretation.
His most celebrated achievement was Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an, a comprehensive 20-volume Qur’anic commentary that became a major reference in contemporary Islamic scholarship. Its distinctive approach interprets Qur’anic passages through other passages, while incorporating philosophical, theological, historical and social discussions.
Tabatabaei also produced influential philosophical works, including Usul-e Falsafeh va Ravesh-e Realism (The Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism), Bidayat al-Hikmah and Nihayat al-Hikmah. These publications helped establish structured approaches to teaching Islamic philosophy in religious seminaries and academic circles. 
This year’s commemorations are organized around the theme of rationality and spirituality, which organizers describe as two essential dimensions of contemporary intellectual and social life.
Muhammad Bagher Khorasani, executive director of the Supreme Council of Islamic Wisdom, said nearly 100 programs with confirmed subjects, speakers and schedules had been proposed, with organizers hoping to expand the number beyond 150.
According to Khorasani, organizers have contacted the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, the Ministry of Education and university institutions to encourage professors and educational centers to dedicate part of their November 15 activities to introducing Allameh Tabatabaei’s scholarship and character.
The program extends beyond universities and seminaries, with activities planned in several Iranian cities and cooperation involving religious institutions and cultural organizations abroad. A special event is also being coordinated with Iran’s cultural representation in Tunisia.
Mashhad is scheduled to host a program on November 19, while another gathering is planned in Kermanshah on November 21, coinciding with the final day of the newly established cultural week.
The initiative also includes the 16th gathering of scholars specializing in rational sciences, scheduled for November 18, alongside documentary productions, educational materials and a revised edition of a documentary about Al-Mizan.
Organizers have additionally prepared 25 posters presenting statements about Tabatabaei’s intellectual and spiritual contributions. The National Commission for UNESCO in Iran has also been approached regarding international activities introducing his legacy during 2026. 
The establishment of the Week of Wisdom and Philosophy gives this year’s observance a broader institutional dimension, linking the anniversary of Allameh Tabatabaei’s passing with November 21, the anniversary of the Persian philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi and UNESCO’s World Philosophy Day.