Religious traditionalism in Iran
Encyclopedia
Today there are basically three types of Islam
in Iran
: traditionalism (traditional humanism), modernism, and a variety of forms of revivalism usually brought together as fundamentalism.
Until two hundred years ago, in spite of the many schools and interpretations, many Muslims in Iran lived within the tradition. It was a living tradition, emphasizing the harmony of law, art, and all forms of knowledge. Also a significant Iranian scholar followed the tradition of Persian sufism
and pluralism. Currently in Iran there exist three main types of Islam: traditionalists (represented by Hossein Nasr and Yousef Sanei), modernists (represented by Abdolkarim Soroush
) and different groups under the conservative umbrella (represented by Ruhollah Khomeini
, Ali Khamenei
, Mohammad-Taghi Bahjat
, Naser Makarem Shirazi
, Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
and Hossein Noori Hamedani
). Iranian Islam differs from the mainstream Sunni Islam and may be better understood by studying the Shia history in Arabia and Iran.
Some groups of conservatives and Traditionals humanists
have tendencies toward mystical spiritualism and some of them are less political (or apolitcal).
In traditional schools, traditional astronomy and geometry are discussed as well as philosophy, sufism and ethics.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in 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...
: traditionalism (traditional humanism), modernism, and a variety of forms of revivalism usually brought together as fundamentalism.
Until two hundred years ago, in spite of the many schools and interpretations, many Muslims in Iran lived within the tradition. It was a living tradition, emphasizing the harmony of law, art, and all forms of knowledge. Also a significant Iranian scholar followed the tradition of Persian sufism
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
and pluralism. Currently in Iran there exist three main types of Islam: traditionalists (represented by Hossein Nasr and Yousef Sanei), modernists (represented by Abdolkarim Soroush
Abdolkarim Soroush
Abdolkarim Soroush , born Hosein Haj Faraj Dabbagh , is an Iranian thinker, reformer, Rumi scholar and a former professor at the University of Tehran. He is arguably the most influential figure in religious intellectual movement in Iran. Professor Soroush is currently a visiting scholar at the...
) and different groups under the conservative umbrella (represented by Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
, Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
, Mohammad-Taghi Bahjat
Mohammad Taghi Bahjat Foumani
Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Bahjat Foumani was an Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja with political and social views close to fundamentalist schools. He was a student of the famous mystic, Sayed Ali Qadhi Tabatabaei, and also a student of Abulhasan Isfahani and Mirza Naini...
, Naser Makarem Shirazi
Naser Makarem Shirazi
Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi is an ayatollah in Iran. He is a spiritual guide for many Shia Muslims.-In Iran:He started his formal Islamic studies at the age of 14 in the Agha Babakhan Shirazi seminary....
, Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi is a hardline Iranian Twelver Shi'i cleric and politician who is widely seen as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor. He is also a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for choosing the Supreme Leader, where he heads...
and Hossein Noori Hamedani
Hossein Noori Hamedani
Grand Ayatollah Hosein Nuri-Hamadani is an Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja. Nuri-Hamadani has been called a "hard-line cleric," who has expressed his strong disapproval of Sufis and dervishes, Jews, the intellectual Abdolkarim Soroush and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of...
). Iranian Islam differs from the mainstream Sunni Islam and may be better understood by studying the Shia history in Arabia and Iran.
Some groups of conservatives and Traditionals humanists
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
have tendencies toward mystical spiritualism and some of them are less political (or apolitcal).
In traditional schools, traditional astronomy and geometry are discussed as well as philosophy, sufism and ethics.
traditional nobleman of 20th century
- Hassan Hasanzadeh Amoli
- Mohammad Taghi Jafari
- Allameh TabatabaeiAllameh TabatabaeiAllameh Seyyed Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei was one of the most prominent thinkers of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam...
- Hossein Nasr
- Mehdi Elahi Ghomshei
- Hossein Elahi GhomsheiHossein Elahi GhomsheiHossein Mohyeddin Elahi Ghomshei better known as Elahi Ghomshei, is an Iranian scholar, author and lecturer on literature, art and mysticism.-Life and Education:...
- Jafar ShahidiJafar ShahidiJafar Shahidi was a notable scholar of Persian language and literature and a renowned historian of Islam.Shahidi was born in Boroujerd. He studied both in University and Seminary and held a PhD degree from Tehran University and Ijtihad from Seminaries in Qom and Najaf...
- Yousef Sanei
- Mehdi Haeri YazdiMehdi Haeri YazdiMehdi Haeri Yazdi was a prominent Shia Islamic cleric in Iran and the first son of Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri Yazdi, the founder of Qom seminary and teacher of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who became the leader of the Iranian Revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.-Background:Mehdi...
- Jalaleddin Ashtiani
- Molavi Ahmad Narouie
- Ja‘far SobhaniJa‘far SobhaniGrand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani is an Iranian Twelver shia marja, influential theologian and writer.Ayatullah Subhani learned under eminent scholars such as Grand Ayatullah Borojurdi, Grand Ayatullah Khomeini, and Sayid Muhammad Tabataba'i for about fifteen years.Jafar Sobhani is a lecturer at Qom...
See also
- Religious Intellectualism in IranReligious intellectualism in IranReligious intellectualism in Iran reached its apogee during the Persian Constitutional Revolution . The process involved philosophers, sociologists, political scientists and cultural theorists.-Summary:...
- History of fundamentalist Islam in IranHistory of fundamentalist Islam in IranThe history of fundamentalist Islam in Iran covers the history of Islamic revivalism and the rise of political Islam in modern Iran. Today, there are basically three types of Islam in Iran: traditionalism, modernism, and a variety of forms of revivalism usually brought together as fundamentalism...
- Islam in IranIslam in IranThe Islamic conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia. However, the achievements of the previous Persian civilizations were not lost, but were to a great extent absorbed by the new Islamic polity...