Islam, Iran and Revolution

The Wave of the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

The word Islam in the Quran means "submission" as of "submission to god". Islamic Religion emerged in large numbers during and after the legacy of Prophet Mohamamd between 570 CE to 632 CE. Prophet Mohammad is named as the Final and Last Messenger of Allah. Though Islam started From Prophet Adam and through the teachings of Moses, Ibrahim. Jesus the Final Teachings were of Prophet Mohammad. After the Death of Prophet Mohammad in 632 CE, Four Caliphs (Successors) were established and they carried the legacy of Islam to other parts of the world, sometimes by military expansion too. They were known as Rashidun (Right-guided) Caliphs though the Shia Islam doesn't consider the first three caliphs as legitimate and they consider the fourth Ali as the Successor of Prophet Mohammad. There was an Internal war during the fourth caliph and the religion was thus divided into two i) Sunni ii) Shia. The war was on the side of the cousin of the third caliph and thus it established Umayyad caliph in 661.


The Muslim conquest in Persia (637-651) established the foundation of Islam into Iran(the then Persia). During the war, the Rashidun caliphate won and the seeds of Islam were sown into the land of Iran. Thus, the Sasanian empire came to end and with it there started the Decline of Zoroastrian religion the then majority in Iran. Since then, Islam has been a majority in Iran. 

   The Sasanian empire ruled for over 400 years in the region, not only in Iran but the whole of the region up to the starting of Pakistan and its neighborhood. During the era, the major part of India was ruled by the Gupta Dynasty. Due to the rising Islam, some Zoroastrian believers feared Islamic persecution and many moved towards the other parts of the world. A group of Refuges came into the Coast of Gujarat, where they were allowed greater freedom to observe their faith and tradition. This was the Reason of the Gujarati accent in Indian Parsis. India too accepted their cuisine and some traditions. In the Later period, they played a minor but significant role in the Development of India.


Rashidun ruled until 661CE, after the Death of fourth caliph Ali. Then the cousin of the third caliph and Umayyad Caliph ruled in Iran till 750 CE. Many rulers then came and Ruled until the last Empire of Pahlavi in 1925-1979(with some interference in between). It was Reza Shah, a Brigadier-General who deposed the previous Qajar Dynasty and Declared himself Shah(king). Later it was ruled by his son, Mohammad Shah Pahlavi.


    The Mohammad Shah Pahlavi was more inclined towards Western and Secular ideologies and this caused discomfort amongst all the Clerics and Communists. During the period, Western Fashion and lifestyle were much into Iran. The roads were full of Youngsters in Skirts, Shirts and Pants. The reforms included during the Shah rule was somewhat great. The education and infrastructure were motivated and in the full swing, but it was just as the British reforms in India. Mainly for their own benefits arising from oil prices and support from the western powers. The main problem was the Westernisation of Iran, not Modernisation of it. The Modernisation was overruled by the Imperialistic Structure of Westernisation in Iran under the Shah's Rule. Though Iran was progressing in some aspects it was leading towards the signs of Absolute Autocracy by the Shah.


   In 1951 when Mohammad Mosaddegh was elected democratically it caused resentment amongst the Western nations as well as the Shah. He was the First Democratically elected leader although he suffered too due to the Ruling of Shah. Once during his Prime Ministership, due to the corruption and uneven distribution of the Oil money, he decided to Audit the documents of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, a British Corporation. But the Corporation refused and to limit the Company's influence over Iranian Oil, Mosaddegh passed a resolution to Nationalise the Iranian oil and thus Created ruckus amongst the whole World Economy mainly UK and US. In response to this, UK boycotted Iranian oil and made sure others to do so. Also, UK and US in cooperation with the Shah organized a Military Coup in 1953 Against the Prime minister with a Joint operation of Intelligence Agencies and Military of Both Nations. As the Shah was regarded as a loyalist to the Westerners, they helped him to rule over Iran again.


These lead to a wave of Dissent amongst all the Sections of Iranian society lead by Ayatollah Khomeini, a Well known Shia Cleric. The coup was one of the major reasons for the Islamic Republic revolution of 1979. Between the Period, Ayatollah Khomeini was Jailed and Exiled and this created the situation more critical. The revolution came into being. As it is said, it is not a day's work but it is the work and accumulation of a slow process of dissatisfaction and oppression of the commoners. The Influence or the Imperialistic Capture of the Foreign nations made the State of Iran a living hell. After the protests and killing of Dissenters, there came a day where the Establishment of the Iranian Islamic Republic came into existence. But unlike other revolutions dependent on the Peasants and Working class, it was more of a theoretical and anti-western nature. 

    But the Revolution caused more problems into the State. As it was anti-Western, it got compelled into a more anti-modern agenda. The law was replaced by Islamic Sharia law. The women were deprived of their marriage and other essential rights. Hijab was made compulsory for them. Freedom of expression was hardly exercised. Due to their Anit-Western Economy and Trading, their Economy suffered a huge blow after the revolution also. The hostage crises during 1979 also made a sense of revenge amongst the Americans. Though the US always tries to make the situations peaceful in the Middle-East it is always incorporated with its Benefits in Oil Trade. The Presence of Islamic Terror organization too worsened the state of Being into the State. Though in comparison with its Neighbour Iraq, its in a moderate condition. The Beginning of the year 2020 saw a Smoke of a War between the United States and Iran due to the killing of their General Soleimani, but these tensions were improvised by the Diplomatic talks between both nations.