Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers

Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers

The Islamic Revolution as a Response to Crisis of Pahlavi-Era Iran: An Analysis of Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi’s Thought

Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Author
Sajjad Alimirzaei
PhD student in Islamic Revolution Political Studies, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22059/jstmt.2026.407472.1848
Abstract
The Islamic Revolution of Iran was one of the most significant political and social developments of the twentieth century. It emerged in the context of the political, cultural, and moral crises that characterized the Pahlavi era. This study examines the causes of the Islamic Revolution from the perspective of Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, using Thomas Spragens’ crisis theory as its analytical framework. It employs qualitative documentary analysis and draws on primary sources, including Misbah Yazdi’s written works and public speeches. The analysis applies the four stages of Spragens’ crisis theory, namely, diagnosing the crisis, analyzing its causes, envisioning an ideal society, and proposing solutions, to examine the structure of Misbah Yazdi’s political thought. The findings show that Misbah Yazdi regarded the rule of the Pahlavi regime as the fundamental crisis facing Iranian society. He attributed this crisis to political authoritarianism, anti religious policies, cultural corruption, and the spread of secular and non Islamic ideologies. From his perspective, the Islamic Revolution constituted a comprehensive response to these crises and an attempt to reconstruct society on the basis of Islamic values and teachings. He envisioned the ideal society as one established through religious government, the implementation of Islamic laws, and the cultivation of individuals committed to monotheistic principles. Key elements of his political thought, including the absolute guardianship of the Islamic jurist, known as Wilayat al Faqih, opposition to secularism, criticism of Marxism, and rejection of religious pluralism, were largely formulated in opposition to competing intellectual currents. The study concludes that, despite certain initial limitations, Spragens’ methodology provides a useful framework for the systematic analysis of contemporary Islamic thought. It also demonstrates how this framework can clarify the relationship between historical crises and the political and social solutions proposed by intellectual figures.
Keywords
Crisis theory
Islamic Revolution
Misbah Yazdi
Taghut
Wilayat al-Faqih
Subjects
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Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers
Volume 16, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 215-236

  • Receive Date 02 December 2025
  • Revise Date 16 March 2026
  • Accept Date 06 June 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026