Ministry of Science, Research & Technology Iranian Information & Documentation Center (Research Center) Proceedings of the Meeting & workshop on Development of a National IT Strategy Focusing on Indigenous Content Development Iran-Tehran October, 2 nd & 3 rd Octobr,2004
Information Technology (IT) and the Islamic theological centers; Achievements and Perspectives with an emphasis on the macrothesaurus of the Islamic sciences 12 Mohammad Taghi Sobhani, Mohammad Hadi Yaghobnezhad, Ramezanali Bazrafshan Abstracs The present paper explains the method adopted to meet an urgent need for a comprehensive thesaurus of Islamic sciences. The Macrothesaurus developed by IPO is described The author believes that such comprehensive thesaurus would contribute to the strength and scop of Islamic sciences. It also touches upon the effect of such compilation on database design and interoperability as far as Islamic Content management is concerned Keywords: Islamic Theological Centers, Thesaurus Development, Content Management, Database design. 1. IT and the Islamic theological centers The victory of Islamic revolution of Iran, the introduction of Islam and the Shi`ah school of thought in particular as the religion of both this and the next world, the emergence of religion in the field of action and socio-political arena and the remarkable turn toward Islam and Shi`ism on behalf of thinkers and scholars and their expectations from the Islamic government to present the true face of Islam, all prompted the distinguished scholars of "Islamic theological centers" (hawza) to organize and systematize the Islamic sciences using modern technology and to take fundamental steps in the way of developing the production of Islamic information and the management of religious sciences. It is worth mentioning that since the 1360s\1980s Islamic theological centers have taken appropriate measures towards these noble ends by participating in domestic and international conferences and exhibitions, producing magazines, books, software, databanks and computer networks. They have also in mind the task of training human resources through establishing academic educational and research courses within the framework of universities and research centers, publishing scholarly works, academic and research magazines, teaching such foreign languages as Arabic, English and French.
116 / Documents of a Meeting & Workshop As result we are now witnessing some 200 educational and research centers and databanks, along with tens of internet and intranet sites, hundreds of computer software and the publication of hundreds of books and tens of periodicals annually. The extent of information production in the field of religion, the establishment of different institutes, various libraries, the compilation and publication of encyclopedias, great team projects, the creation of academic associations all one side, and the expectations of others particularly those of academic and cultural personalities and men of thought, and the abundance of existing questions with respect to Islam on the other, all would demand the growing need to organize religious information. For the realization of this enterprise, there was an urgent need for a comprehensive thesaurus of Islamic sciences. 2. Macrothesaurus by Islamic Propagation Office The Islamic Propagation Office as the greatest academic and propagation institute of the Islamic theological center of Qom, with 25 years of experience in the fields of educational, research and communication activities, and with the support of more than 500 scholars and researchers, and some faculties in the Baqer-ulum Institute for Advanced Studies, the Research Institute for Islamic Science and Culture, and the board of writers for fifteen general and specialized publications well recognized this urgent need and proposed to compile a comprehensive macrothesaurus of Islamic science. In this way it began this enterprise by forming specialized groups, consulting with distinguished professors of the field and appointing advisors and supervisors in specialized branches of Islamic sciences and thus began to make a procedure on the basis of ISO 2788, and finally began the project in 1371/1992. Here I would like to draw your attention to the objectives, policies and some salient features of the sort of activities taken on in this regard. Of the objectives and policies the following are of much importance: A) Objectives 1. Introducing the academic structure of Islamic sciences; 2. Explaining and drawing the semantic system of the terminology of Islamic sciences and showing the strong structure in its different braches; 3. Re-ordering and reviving Islamic thinking by utilizing new techniques and technology; 4. Helping to strengthen and develop the Islamic sciences by compiling the comprehensive thesaurus of Islamic sciences (classification, organization and management of information of Islamic sciences). B) Policies 1. Attempts to realize a system of organizing Islamic data in an up to date manner with the use of modern technology. 2. Focusing on the educated audience, experts, and scholars of both universities and Islamic theological centers in the first place and general readers in the second. 3. Making use of scientific methods and international standards in this domain. 4. Popularizing the use of the Islamic thesauruses in information science and technology.
Information Technology (IT) / 117 5. Moving toward designing the specialized-structural databanks on the basis of these thesauruses. 6. Seeking new and proper ways for systematic production of Islamic data and presenting them in a proper manner. 7. Communications with thinkers, scholars and men of culture and making use of their achievement. 8. Welcoming collaboration and cooperation with other research centers and institutes to avoid any repetition. The notable activities performed to realize the determined ends: 1. Compilation of a specialized thesaurus of the Islamic sciences. 2. Giving the original references for the terms compiled with the consultation of reliable sources and academic authorities. Published Works: A) The compilation and publication of An Introduction to thesaurus of Islamic sciences using ISO 2788 standard, UNESCO thesaurus and Eric thesaurus (1372\1992-1375\1995). This book provides the scholars with necessary guidelines to the principles and rules to compile the macrothesaurus of Islamic sciences. B) Specialized microthesauruses 1. Thesaurus of Koranic sciences which covers more than 4000 Koranic terms in three methods: alphabetical, topic-based and hierarchical order in one volume in 468 pages with over 300 related sources and references. 2. Thesaurus of Islamic philosophy in two volumes, 1289 pages with reference to 122 sources. The completion of this work took 4 years. It covers the whole range of Islamic philosophy (peripatetic, Illuminationist and the transcendent theosophy) is presented alphabetically. 3. Thesaurus the Roots of fiqh in one volume in 400 pages containing some 3400 terms which have been extracted from 180 sources and references in 4 years. It has been presented in three alphabetical, topic-based and hierarchical displays: the first presents each term alphabetically along with its a priori relationships with other terms. In topic-based display one can find all the related terms 4. Thesaurus of logic also in one volume 440 pp. containing 6327 terms taken from 43 references in 5 years. It is also compiled and published in three afore-mentioned methods. 5. Thesaurus of Islamic theology. It began in 1375\1996 and took 7 years to be completed. It is published in 2 volumes in 1116 pp and contains 14814 terms extracted from 181 sources. It has also arranged in three above methods. 6. Thesaurus of Islamic ethics which began in 1376\1997 and completed in 1382. It contains 4600 terms which are taken from 200 references. Like other thesaurus it is arranged in three forms of alphabetical,
118 / Documents of a Meeting & Workshop topic-based and hierarchical classification ready to be given to the press and publication. 7. Thesaurus of hadeeth sciences. The compilation of this thesaurus took 6 years ant it contains over 8000 terms and more than 22000 proper names which due to their specific interrelationships amount to 30100. These terms which are derived from 20 sources are now in press. 8. Thesaurus of Fiqh (jurisprudence). This project which began 1376\1997 is in process. So far some 600 legal books from both Shia and the orthodox Muslim scholars are reviewed and over 20000 terms in 40 legal subjects are extracted. 50% of the project is performed. The remaining part is being done. 2. Comprehensive Dictionaries of Islamic sciences In order to support the above thesaurus by presenting brief, documented, and useful information and to pave the way for compiling the required comprehensive specialized dictionaries, the more important and frequently used terms are chosen and necessary information and references are provided. These collections that are made in consultation with experts and the authentic and original sources are reviewed in groups of three to be finalized for press and publication. The latest information on the compiled dictionaries is as follows: 1. Dictionary of Koranic sciences with 2600 entries and 300 references in 1500 pp. The first volume of it is issued this year; 2. Dictionary of the Roots of Fiqh with 3000 entries and 180 sources in 2000 pp. The first volume is now in press; 3. Dictionary of Islamic philosophy with 1500 entries and 190 sources; 4. Dictionary of logic with 3000 entries and 43 references; 5. Dictionary of Islamic theology with 2000 entries and 180 sources; 6. Dictionary of Islamic ethics with 2500 entries and 200 sources; 7. Dictionary of science of Tradition (hadeeth) with 4000 entries and with reference to 120 sources. 3. Common points In compiling the specialized thesauruses there were key words that could not be specifically contained in any of the related thesaurus. Also in indexing there were terms which are not regarded as technical ones in the field of Islamic sciences. These words are determined and arranged in required categories for the sake of improving the indexing of related terms. They are classified in the following types: 1. General terms; 1. Proper nouns (individual people); 2. Proper nouns (corporate bodies or identifiers (names of Institute, centers, etc.)); 3. Geographical and Place names. In order to support the indexes of the press published between 1368\1990 and 1375\1996 and also the whole corpuses of martyr Mutahhari, the eminent leadership Ayatollah Khamanei, Ayatollah Hassanzadeh Amoli, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, and the late Ayatollah Falsafi the scholars would simultaneously review and approve
Information Technology (IT) / 119 any suggested terms and present them in booklets. These would then be arranged and edited in order. The results of their works are the following: General terms 12000 Preferred terms 6134 Non-preferred terms 5117 Scope notes 181 Proper nouns 23000 Predominant names 18700 Cross-references 5430 Corporate body (names of 5000 institute, centers, etc.) Preferred terms 3500 Non-preferred terms 1400 Scope notes 500 Geographical names 5500 Preferred terms 4661 Non-preferred terms 382 It should be noted that the sort of relation in the above cases is equivalence relationship. 4. Process of compilation and publication The most important works performed here are as follows: 1. Choosing the faculties, advisors and supervisors and designing the organizational structure of a center required for this task; 2. Deciding on the compiling procedure and establishing institutions and workshops for the standardization of the thesaurus; 3. Designing the structure of comprehensive thesauruses-both general and specialized- and the related descriptive and explanatory dictionaries; 4. Papering and arranging the sources of information on proper nouns, places etc; 5. Publishing the thesaurus with references; 6. Providing an electronic edition; 7. Designing data banks for a systemized version of sciences on the basis of vast information materials produced in the Islamic theological centers - particularly the Islamic Propagation Office; 8. Taking measures in dissemination of Islamic culture and providing services to research centers as well as individual scholars; 9. Updating religious information in the form of a thesaurus of Islamic sciences; 10. Codification of the thesaurus on the basis of logical order;
120 / Documents of a Meeting & Workshop 11. Holding sessions to critically review the compiled thesaurus and attempts to complete and update them; 12. Communications with publications centers and religious sites to use the thesaurus of Islamic sciences in subject indexing. 5. The Characteristics of the thesaurus of Islamic sciences: 1. It is the first Islamic macrothesaurus to cover exhaustively the Islamic sciences. 2. The terms are based on UNESCO ISO2788 standard which is praised in a letter of recognition by The Iranian National Commission of UNESCO. 3. Presentation of general structure\ layout of every branch of Islamic sciences on the basis of standard ideas. 4. Deploying the topic-based and hierarchical methods on the basis of the semantic relationship. 5. Deriving the related terms from main sources and references of each discipline. 6. Having the support of well qualified consultants especially the religious experts and specialists 7. Subjects spanning 8 specialized branches of Islamic sciences with over 120000 terms which might amount to 150000 in the course of on-going research. Also there are numerous checklists for the thesaurus of proper nouns, Identifiers and general terms. 8. Documentation of all terms with reference to authentic sources. 9. Providing an exhaustive specialized dictionary for each branch. 10. The possibility of contextualizing the terms with multimedia software. 11. The possibility of different types of search; verbal, conjunctive and synthetic along with the capacity of adding extra material. 12. The possibility of interrelationship of specialized dictionaries and the hierarchical structure of specialized thesauruses. 13. The possibility of storing and regaining of Islamic data in hierarchical levels. 6. Perspectives 1. Standardization of the Islamic terminology and updating them for the management of Islamic sciences 2. Institutionalization of thesauruses and standardization of classifying terminology on the basis of them 3. Providing multilingual versions of specialized thesauruses 4. Establishment of a digital library based on the thesaurus (some measures were taken in its design with the collaboration and contribution of TAKFA. It is now in process and needs final approval and the required funds). 5. Establishment of a center for academic records and documents in the field of religion in accordance with the thesaurus method. Initial plans have been made but the continuation of work demands more support and necessary funds.
Information Technology (IT) / 121 6. Providing software of the macrothesaurus of Islamic sciences for easy access to the contexts of the related terms. 7. Obstacles and difficulties 1. Although it is possible to relate terms to the related texts through an E- edition, it is a masterpiece that demands the on-going work with required support and funds. 2. Formatting and digitalizing the information is beyond the capacity of one center and it calls for the support and collaboration of other centers as well. 3. Indexing and updating the texts of different sorts 4. Persuading all organizations, and research centers to completely observe the required standards. 5. The initial versions of software for both loading and regaining information is made and issued for the public. New versions of them are also being made, but the present possibilities do not satisfy this enterprise and here also we need the support and the cooperation of other experts and centers. 6. Exact observance of all universal rules and principles of compiling thesaurus in view of the extent of Islamic sciences, the complexity of terminology and the variety of ideas of authorities in defining related terms 7. This sort of activity is a national and international project and needs financial support and serious contributions on the part of institutions in charge at the national and international level. Here I should like to thank "The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology" and "The Information and Documentation Center" who took this important project and promised their complete support. God willing with this support we hope to witness the growth and expansion of the Islamic thesaurus on the international front.