Clericalism in Iran

Clericalism in Iran has a long history and had remarkable impact on Iranian society, politics as well as on Islamic theology.

Sheikh Fazlollah Noori

Emergence

There are controversies about the emergence of clericalism in Iran. Some scholars believe that clericalism dates back to 1000 years ago.[1]

Schools
Qom Seminary

Shia:

Sunni:

Structure and functions:

Over the course of history, Iranian seminaries have had traditional functions in the religious sphere to provide support to civil society in the country. However, after the Iranian revolution in 1979, seminaries have been highly politicized and their independence greatly reduced.[2] The revolution created a new political order based on Shiite theological foundations and the absolute ruling power was given to a Shiite jurist/cleric.[3]

The history of Qom seminaries dates back to 3rd century (Hijri). Hossein Ibn Said Ahvazi, a famous theologian, moved from Kufa to Qom. He educated the first generation of clerics in Qom.[4]

Impact on Economy

Many clerics have been involved in high-profile economic activities, most notably Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Abbas Vaez-Tabasi and Nasser Makarem Shirazi.

Impact on Iranian Politics
Clerics involved in politics during Safavid and Qajar era
  • Allameh Majlesi
  • Mirza Shirazi
  • Seyyed Jamaluddin Asadabadi (Afghani)
Clerics involved in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution
Influential Clerics of the Pahlavi era
Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Islamic Republic of Iran
Clerics involved in the Iranian Revolution
Clerics acting as high officials
Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president
Political parties founded by clerics
Institutions exclusively associated with clerics

Impact on other societies
  • Ali Sistani
gollark: I sometimes get annoyed about living here given that the UK has many problems, but then I remember that actually quite a lot of countries have terrible governance too and ours is among the less bad.
gollark: Sort of. It's not finalised. Right now you can still travel and trade and wjatnot the same way.
gollark: Although Boris seems to want to mess it up now, at the most inopportune time.
gollark: Technically, we haven't exactly left yet.
gollark: Also several thousand something of diving gear.

References
  1. (in Persian) ديدگاههاي رياست جمهوري Archived 2008-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Project Syndicate
  3. Qantara.de - Iran's Political Clerics - The Absence of a Credible Religious Authority
  4. طظˆط²ظ‡ - ظ…ظ‚ط§ظ„ط§طھ -طظˆط²ظ‡ ط¹ظ„ظ…غŒظ‡ ظ‚ظ… - ط³غŒط¯ع©ط¨ط§ط±غŒطŒ ط³غŒط¯ ط¹ظ„غŒط±ط¶ط§

See also
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