Ayatollah Abol-Ghasem Kashani
Encyclopedia
Ayatollah
Seyyed Abol-Ghasem Mostafavi Kashani (born 1882 in Tehran
, Iran
, died March 14, 1962) was a prominent Twelver Shi'a Muslim
cleric and former Parliament Speaker of Iran
.
soon after learning to read and write.
At 16, Abol-Ghasem went to Islamic seminary
to study literature
, Arabic language
, logic
, semantics
and speech, as well as the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, or Fiqh
. He continued his education at the seminary in
an-Najaf
in the Qur'an
and Hadith
s as interpreted in Shia law, receiving his jurisprudence degree when he was 25.
in The Hague
, Netherlands, in Iran's case with the United States and a presidential candidate in the Iranian presidential elections of 1988
and 2005
.
Kashani is also the great grandfather of Iranian-American filmmaker Sam Ali Kashani
.
leanings from early on in his career and opposed what he saw as "oppression
, despot
ism and colonization." Because of these beliefs, he was especially popular with the poor in Tehran. He also advocated the return of Islamic government to Iran, though this was most likely for political reasons.
Due to nationalist positions, Ayatollah Kashani was arrested and exiled by the British and Soviets. He continued to oppose foreign, especially British, control of Iran's oil industry while in exile
. After he returned from exile on 10 June 1950, he continued to protest. Angered by the fact that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company paid Iran much less than it did the British, he organized a movement against it and was the "virtually alone among the leading mujtahids in joining" nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq, in his campaign to nationalize the Iranian oil industry in 1951.
Kashani served as speaker of the Majles (or lower house of Parliament), during the oil nationalization and 1953 coup.
Political allies against the Shah and the British at first, Kashani and Mossedeq parted ways in 1953 after the emergency powers granted to Mossedeq by the Majlis were extended for 12 months and Mossedeq instituted secular reforms.
By withholding his support, Kashani played a crucial role in the success of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état that overthrew Mossedeq.
Following his break with Mossedeq, he gave support to his former adversary, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
.
. and even declared that Mosaddeq deserved to be executed because he had committed the ultimate offense: rebelling against the shah, `betraying` the country, and repeatedly violating the sacred law."
He also participated in some anti-British activities in Iraq
.
Curiously, despite his assistance in the 1953 coup, Kashani is often portrayed as a victim of the coup, in the Islamic Republic of Iran today on the grounds that the coup was a prime example of American aggression in Iran, and that politically active clergy act as bulwarks of Islam against from Western predation. The hard-line Entekhab newspaper, for example in 2002 anniversary story on the coup asserted the coup was launched `against Mossadegh and also Kashani`
Ayatollah Kashani died in Tehran
in 1962, and his death paved the way for Khomeini to gain influence.
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Seyyed Abol-Ghasem Mostafavi Kashani (born 1882 in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, died March 14, 1962) was a prominent Twelver Shi'a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
cleric and former Parliament Speaker of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Early life
His father, Ayatollah Hajj Seyyed Mostafa Kashani , was a noted clergyman of Shiism in his time. Abol-Ghasem was trained in Shia Islam by his religious parents and began study of the Qur'anQur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
soon after learning to read and write.
At 16, Abol-Ghasem went to Islamic seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
to study literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, Arabic language
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
, semantics
Semantics
Semantics is the study of meaning. It focuses on the relation between signifiers, such as words, phrases, signs and symbols, and what they stand for, their denotata....
and speech, as well as the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, or Fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
. He continued his education at the seminary in
an-Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
and Hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
s as interpreted in Shia law, receiving his jurisprudence degree when he was 25.
Personal life
One of Kashani's children, Mahmoud Kashani, was head of the Iranian delegation to the International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Netherlands, in Iran's case with the United States and a presidential candidate in the Iranian presidential elections of 1988
Iranian presidential election, 1985
The Iranian presidential election of 1985 took place on August 16, 1985, and resulted in the re-election of the incumbent President Ali Khamenei.-External links:*...
and 2005
Iranian presidential election, 2005
Iran's ninth presidential election took place in two rounds, the first on June 17, 2005, the run-off on June 24. Mohammad Khatami, the previous President of Iran, stepped down on August 2, 2005, after serving his maximum two consecutive four-year terms according to the Islamic Republic's constitution...
.
Kashani is also the great grandfather of Iranian-American filmmaker Sam Ali Kashani
Sam Ali Kashani
Sam Ali Kashani is an Iranian-American filmmaker, documentarian, and producer. He is the director and producer of several documentary films primarily focused on contemporary Iranian society and culture, including Tehran: Another Side and BAHRAM An Iranian Rapper...
.
Political life
Abol-Ghasem expressed Anti-capitalistAnti-capitalism
Anti-capitalism describes a wide variety of movements, ideas, and attitudes which oppose capitalism. Anti-capitalists, in the strict sense of the word, are those who wish to completely replace capitalism with another system....
leanings from early on in his career and opposed what he saw as "oppression
Oppression
Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. It can also be defined as an act or instance of oppressing, the state of being oppressed, and the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, and...
, despot
Despotism
Despotism is a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. That entity may be an individual, as in an autocracy, or it may be a group, as in an oligarchy...
ism and colonization." Because of these beliefs, he was especially popular with the poor in Tehran. He also advocated the return of Islamic government to Iran, though this was most likely for political reasons.
Due to nationalist positions, Ayatollah Kashani was arrested and exiled by the British and Soviets. He continued to oppose foreign, especially British, control of Iran's oil industry while in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
. After he returned from exile on 10 June 1950, he continued to protest. Angered by the fact that the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company paid Iran much less than it did the British, he organized a movement against it and was the "virtually alone among the leading mujtahids in joining" nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq, in his campaign to nationalize the Iranian oil industry in 1951.
Kashani served as speaker of the Majles (or lower house of Parliament), during the oil nationalization and 1953 coup.
Political allies against the Shah and the British at first, Kashani and Mossedeq parted ways in 1953 after the emergency powers granted to Mossedeq by the Majlis were extended for 12 months and Mossedeq instituted secular reforms.
By withholding his support, Kashani played a crucial role in the success of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état that overthrew Mossedeq.
Following his break with Mossedeq, he gave support to his former adversary, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
.
. and even declared that Mosaddeq deserved to be executed because he had committed the ultimate offense: rebelling against the shah, `betraying` the country, and repeatedly violating the sacred law."
He also participated in some anti-British activities in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Curiously, despite his assistance in the 1953 coup, Kashani is often portrayed as a victim of the coup, in the Islamic Republic of Iran today on the grounds that the coup was a prime example of American aggression in Iran, and that politically active clergy act as bulwarks of Islam against from Western predation. The hard-line Entekhab newspaper, for example in 2002 anniversary story on the coup asserted the coup was launched `against Mossadegh and also Kashani`
Ayatollah Kashani died in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 1962, and his death paved the way for Khomeini to gain influence.