Constitutional movement aimed at shielding Iran from foreign manipulation

The Iranian Constitutional Revolution was the twentieth century’s first such political movement in the Middle East.

ID: 54899 | Date: 2019/08/04
Dring the early 1900s the only way to save country from government corruption and foreign manipulation was to make a written code of laws. This sentiment caused the Constitutional Revolution. 


Imam Khomeini used to praise sacrifices rendered by leaders of constitutional movement.


 It represented a landmark in Iranian history because of the unlikely support it received from Shia Muslim clerics and clergymen who historically viewed Western concepts with suspicion, some claiming constitutionalism to be anti-Islamic. 


Leading the support was Muhammad Kazim Khurasani, the renowned Shia jurist who conceived of a supporting role for the clergy in a modern Iranian political system.


His explicit positions in support of the Iranian Constitutional Movement and his serious decision to move to Iran in order to defend the country against the occupation of parts of this land by aliens indicates his resolve against colonialism and despotism. He viewed the Constitutional System as a means to prevent cruelty, and believed that it is an obligation for any Muslim to help this movement. 


Drawing on extensive analysis of religious texts, fatwas, and articles written by Khurasani an other pro- and anti-constitutionalists, many writers have provided a comprehensive and illuminating interpretation of Khurasani’s religious pragmatism.


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Despite some opposition from his peers, Khurasani used a form of jurisprudential reasoning when creating shari‘a that was based on human intellect to justify his support of not only the Iranian parliament but also the political powers of clerics.


 He had a reputation across the community as a masterful religious scholar, a skillful teacher, and a committed humanitarian who heeded the people’s socioeconomic and political grievances and took action to address them.


Khurasani’s push for progressive reforms helped to inaugurate a new era of clerical involvement in constitutionalism in the Middle East.


In fact, the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was rooted in the Constitutional Revolution of Iran which began in 1905 and led to the establishment of Parliament in Iran.


Almost 40 years have passed since the day the 2500-year empire in Iran was changed into an Islamic republic following the Islamic Revolution in 1979.


Almost 40 years have passed since then; Iran has become a powerful country in the region and political analysts believe that the secret behind the endurance of the Islamic Revolution evolution is the big support from people.



Islamic Revolution was rooted in the Constitutional movement