Karaj Social Support Center
Karaj Social Support Center
Sufi Order of the Nematollahi Soltan Ali Shahi Gonabadi Dervishes
Social Work
The social work unit of the Husayniyya was established in 1999 and includes various departments such as healthcare, employment services, problem-solving support, counseling, financial assistance, education and culture, and human resource provision. Its administrative section occupies a full floor of approximately 100 square meters.
All staff, physicians, and instructors provide their services voluntarily and free of charge.
Public Classes
These classes are held in the general halls of the Husayniyya according to previously scheduled programs and are open to all interested participants, both men and women. The women’s section benefits from instruction through closed-circuit audiovisual media. The subjects include Arabic grammar, constitutional rights, Islamic judiciary, analysis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from an Islamic perspective, governmental accountability, legal foundations of endowment in Islam, jurisprudential verses, principles of Sufism, history of religions, comparative mysticism across religions and countries like India and China, theoretical mysticism, interpretation of mystical texts, Nicholson and Islamic Sufism, mysticism and Sufism in the Quran, commentary on “Lama‘āt” of ‘Iraqi, fundamentals of mysticism in the Quran and “Masnavi”, philosophy of sciences, philosophy of mathematics, sociology of religion, psychoanalysis and mysticism, among others. Instructors include renowned university professors, seminary lecturers, and field experts. These courses even extend to practical fields like fire safety training.
Education and Culture
The educational and cultural division, a subunit of social work, began its work in 2000 with the participation of around 40 teachers and instructors from various disciplines. It currently occupies about 150 square meters with seven classrooms and a computer lab. It offers high school and pre-university classes, as well as entrance exam preparation across all academic tracks—mathematics and physics, experimental sciences, humanities, vocational fields, and more. Courses span diverse areas including physics, math, chemistry, biology, foreign languages, Persian literature, philosophy, logic, psychology, and arts such as painting and calligraphy. Practical workshops like hardware lab sessions are also held. Based on demand, courses are tailored to students’ needs, including remedial and exam prep classes. With highly qualified teachers, the classes have gained wide popularity. All classes are free and open to the public without restrictive conditions, aside from having a relevant academic background. Separate sessions are held for men and women. The success rate of entrance exam attendees has exceeded 50% in recent years. In addition to high school subjects, Arabic, English, French, and German language courses, as well as general and advanced computer courses, are offered by field specialists. The foreign language division has also started work on translating mystical texts.
An academic advising unit is also part of this division.
Charitable Clinic
The charitable clinic is one of the branches under the social work department, financially supported by its resources. It was launched in 2001 with seven general physicians and a dentist. The clinic provides free medication for eligible patients and covers the costs of hospitalization or surgery through various means, including support from the Saleh Clinic and Reza Charitable Foundation—an endowment of the order based in Tehran. The clinic’s agreements with various specialists and facilities also allow referred patients to receive care at affiliated clinics and labs. In many cases, the clinic helps patients obtain health insurance to enable continued access to medical services. The clinic also provides services like injections, wound care, ECG, oxygen therapy, and lends medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, air mattresses, hospital beds, canes, and heaters. Some dental services are performed externally by volunteer professionals. Besides treatment, the clinic includes management, reception, nursing, and financial departments.
A healthcare and medical counseling unit also operates under the clinic, responding to various health and treatment needs.
Financial Affairs
The financial division of the Husayniyya’s social work unit began operating in 1999 alongside its establishment. Its role is to fund other departments and provide financial assistance based on assessed and approved needs. Services range from non-repayable grants, debt payment for prisoners, funds for essential goods or work tools, hospital expenses, tuition aid, support for flood victims, dowry aid, insurance coverage, and more—all after expert evaluation and decision by the supervisory board. This division prudently allocates donations collected through various channels, ensuring responsible spending and reinforcing donor confidence.
The distribution of goods, gifts, clothing, and dowries is also managed under this division.
Counseling and Problem-Solving
The social counseling unit of the Husayniyya’s social work program provides guidance with the help of experts in legal affairs, psychology, psychoanalysis, family and social services, to individuals in need.
Legal counseling also covers areas such as administrative, family, civil, and criminal cases.
Where needed, the unit independently takes steps to resolve issues. These actions are determined and approved by the supervisory board.
Employment Services
The employment services division of the Husayniyya’s social work program coordinates with job providers to help job seekers find suitable employment.
Personnel Affairs
This division manages the recruitment and provision of operational, educational, and support staff for tasks such as supervision, care, and nursing across all social work departments.