Rereading and interpreting the ideas of leading Muslim thinkers
Mohsen Amin
Abstract
During the Second Pahlavi era, the Qom Seminary faced unique challenges. Ayatollah Borujerdi assumed dual responsibilities: preserving and expanding the heritage of the newly established seminary, while also responding to the non-religious and anti-religious policies of the Pahlavi state and its allies. ...
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During the Second Pahlavi era, the Qom Seminary faced unique challenges. Ayatollah Borujerdi assumed dual responsibilities: preserving and expanding the heritage of the newly established seminary, while also responding to the non-religious and anti-religious policies of the Pahlavi state and its allies. Applying the method of historical sociology, this study explores the approach of Shi'i authority in relation to state policies and the actions of other political and intellectual forces by analyzing Borujerdi’s speeches and conduct within the broader context of socio-political developments. Findings indicate that Borujerdi adopted a dual strategy. Domestically, through a policy of “reminding and negotiating,” he positioned himself as a representative of the religious institution vis-à-vis other forces. Transnationally, by advancing the strategy of Ummatism, he consolidated Shi'i authority within the broader Islamic community and reinforced his domestic influence through international connections. His national and transnational initiatives effectively countered the competing projects of “Iran without Islam” and “Iranian Islam,” thereby contributing to the convergence of Iranians around Islam as a central pillar of national identity.
Rereading and interpreting the ideas of leading Muslim thinkers
Mohsen Amin
Abstract
An aspect that is both significant and often overlooked in the convergence of Islam and modernity is the interaction between Islamic scholars and modern concepts. This interaction has been instrumental in shaping the advancement of modernity and its implementation within Muslim societies. The concept ...
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An aspect that is both significant and often overlooked in the convergence of Islam and modernity is the interaction between Islamic scholars and modern concepts. This interaction has been instrumental in shaping the advancement of modernity and its implementation within Muslim societies. The concept of "nation" is among those that have bestowed upon the Muslim countries of the Middle East a distinct international perception. Regarding this, every Shi'i cleric has endeavored to delineate the demarcation between themselves and this notion by offering a religious and Shi'i perspective on this contemporary concept. Naini, a renowned scholar of the constitutional era, put forth one of these groundbreaking conceptual encounters within the framework of choice theology in the book. We will analyze this notion in the forthcoming article through the lens of "Historical Sociology" and employ the "thematic analysis" technique. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Naini, in employing the "acceptance and appropriation" strategy, initially embraced the entire notion and the resulting nation-state order, upon which he constructed his theory. Additionally, it challenges the "ideological aspect" and endeavors to offer a fresh interpretation of this notion while preserving the Islamic and Shi'i perspectives on emergent modern phenomena and concepts, including the nation and state.
