TEHRAN -- The International Congress on Sohrevardi opened in Zanjan Monday with participation of 300 thinkers from Iran and 12 others different countries.

In a message to the seminar, President Mohammad Khatami stressed the fact that the great philosopher, Sohrevardi, is not only our teacher in philosophy and mysticism but also in tolerance, persistence, bravery, and the valuable art of dialogue.

He also said that Sohrevardi is doubtlessly one of the greatest Islamic thinkers and deepest Iranian philosopher and gnostic.

The president continued that possibly no Islamic thinker and philosopher has achieved Suhrevardi's ability to understand the esoteric language.

Khatami pointed to this fact that Suhrevardi, through his surprising ability managed to discover the eternal essence of everlasting wisdom in different cultures and languages without any kind of prejudice.

If there in the domain of Islamic and Persian wisdom only the Sohrevardi's honored tree of knowledge, which was very soon cut by the axe of ignorance, prejudice and intolerance in the name of Sharia at its early stage, had existed, it then would have been enough to prove to the world that the Islamic culture possesses such power to pass through the superficial conflicts in order to find deeper human knowledge. Khatami said.

Some 53 articles selected from 200 received articles will be represented to the Congress Secretariat.

Sheikh Shahabuldin Sohrevardi was born in 551 lunar year in the Sohrevard village in Zanjan.

He as the founder of philosophy of intuition was martyred in 587 lunar year during Malek Zaher ruling in Halab, Syria.

He has left some 47 precious works now being taught as valuable materials in faculties of philosophy.