Ali Shari'ati - part 2

Question 1

What was Islam of the Safavids?

Answer 1

Used by rulers to create a conservative and politically disengaged population by encouraging them to focus on rituals.

Question 2

How was Islam of the Safavids implemented in Iran?

Answer 2

The ruling dynasty of Iran between C16 and C18 made Shi’ism the official religion of the state. Became known as apolitical Shi’ism which Shari’ati opposed. Used by the clergy. Regarded them as polytheists.

Question 3

How did Shari’ati oppose apolitical Shi’ism?

Answer 3

Spoke out against all those who held onto religious political power.

Question 4

How did Shari’ati understand polytheism?

Answer 4

Covered idol worship and also those who claimed God’s power for themselves. So the imams of his time were polytheists.

Question 5

What did Shari’ati say about the people of Iran?

Answer 5

Shouldn’t be blindly subservient to religious leaders.

Question 6

For Shari’ati what is the purpose of religion?

Answer 6

A vehicle of justice, a way to think about a just social order. All religions had social figures of justice in them that the people could call upon for social change.

Question 7

What did Shari’ati say about Muhammad?

Answer 7

Muhammad sets the example of taking up social responsibility and displaying and gaining the confidence of the people.

Question 8

What did Shari’ati say about the Qur’an?

Answer 8

The Qur’an proclaims that Allah and the people are one and the same. In order to know the will of Allah, it is important to know what the people are saying and doing and thinking.

Question 9

For Shari’ati who would bring about change?

Answer 9

Intellectuals rather than the clergy

Question 10

What socialist ideas did Shari’ati introduce to Islam?

Answer 10

Common ownership and equality.

Question 11

Why did Shari’ati say there is no need for the clerics?

Answer 11

Should be a direct relationship between man and God.

Question 12

What else did Shari’ati criticse the clerics for?

Answer 12

Didn’t encourage the lay people to know about Ali and Hussayn in enough detail
Dedicated too much time to writing reports about rituals and compiling reports of the Imams.
Thought the clergy should focus on lesser known heroes

Question 13

What was the basis of Sharia’ti’s call to revolution?

Answer 13

Hussayn had struck against a regime very similar to that of the Shah. Went against the Sunni Imam Mo’awia who Hussayn described as hereditary, anti-Islamic and anti-popular.

Question 14

Why did Shari’ati like Muhammad and Ali?

Answer 14

They set up a socio political system that gave freedom and equality based on abolishing dictatorships and colonialism and clerical institutions.

Question 15

For Shari’ati what was the social responsibility of the people?

Answer 15

The command for people to enjoin good and forbid wrong

Question 16

What did the duties of the people involve?

Answer 16

Accepting justice as a world outlook
Exercising revolution and martyrdom
Working, worshipping and wielding the sword like Ali
Opposing evil and falsehood even at the cost of their own lives.

Question 17

What was collective responsibility for Shariati?

Answer 17

An obligation for anyone who had reached the age of maturity as much as praying and fasting were. One had to combat injustice and evil if people were to command justice.

Question 18

Who are the Mjoahedin?

Answer 18

Those who are engaged in jihad. Often refers to those who engage in extreme military jihad

Question 19

How did the Savak respond to Shari’ati?

Answer 19

Allowed him to teach at Ershad for some time but banning him for lecturing at Mashdad university.

Question 20

Why was Ershad shut down?

Answer 20

Mojahedin had connections to it, leading to 35 members being arrested, during their trial, their revolutionary Islamic theology and Marxist ideas combined with the Qur’an were clear.

Question 21

Why was interest in Shari’ati increased in 1972?

Answer 21

Delivered a highly charged speech “after martyrdom” at the Namark mosque. Referred to the friends as cast in the image of Imam Hussayn and spoke of “unjust repressive and murderous governments”

Question 22

When Shari’ati hid in 1972, what were the consequences of this?

Answer 22

Savak arrested his father
He fled to England