Clericalism in Iran

Islamic Clericalism in Iran has a long history and had a 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.

Schools

Qom Seminary

Shia:

• Najaf seminaries
• Qom seminaries
• Mashhad Seminaries

Sunni:

• Zahedan seminaries

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. The revolution created a new political order based on Shiite theological foundations and the absolute ruling power was given to a Shiite jurist/cleric.

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.

Impact on the 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 (Afghan)

Clerics involved in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution

• Seyyed Mohammad Tabataba'i
• Seyyed Abdollah Behbehani
• Sheikh Mohammad Khiabani
• Mohammad Kazem Khorasani
• Sheikh Fazlollah Nouri (against the Constitutional Revolution)
• Mohammed Kazem Yazdi (against the Constitutional Revolution)

Influential Clerics of the Pahlavi era

• Seyyed Hassan Modarres
• Seyyed Abolghasem Kashani
• Navvab Safavi
• Sheikh Mohammad Taghi Falsafi

Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Islamic Republic of Iran

Clerics involved in the Iranian Revolution

• Ruhollah Khomeini
• Hosseinali Montazeri
• Morteza Motahhari
• Mohammad Beheshti

Clerics acting as high officials

Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader

Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president

• Ali Khamenei
• Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
• Mohammad Khatami
• Hassan Rouhani
• Mohammad Yazdi
• Ali Meshkini
• Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
• Ahmad Jannati
• Mehdi Karroubi
• Ebrahim Raisi
• Ahmad Khatami
• Sadeq Larijani

Political parties founded by clerics

• Association of Combatant Clerics
• Combatant Clergy Association

Institutions exclusively associated with clerics

• Special Clerical Court

Impact on other societies

• Ali Sistani

See also

• Islam in Iran

External links

• History of Qom seminaries (in Persian)
• Organization of Shafei Sunni Clericalism in Iran (in Persian)
• Organization of Hanafi Sunni Clericalism in Iran (in Persian)