Iranian Revolution 1979: The Islamic Democratization of State.

Byline: Ameer Hamza

The Islamic Republic of Iran is all set to celebrate 40 th anniversary of its glorious revolution, formally called Iranian Revolution. In these forty years, there is a long standing debate whether this model is successful and delivering the masses in its capacity or not but the successful forty years is an answer to all critique. In fact, Iran introduced unique set of political governance, an amalgamation of Islamism and Republicanism, which has been in place since 40 years.

Nothing is ever over in Politics and its discourse continue to change if driven by strong ideology. The post-colonial political discourse witnessed seminal years where Muslim world experienced unintended regimes leading to regime over throw. Iranian revolution 1979 was first in series followed by regime changes in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and partially Asia.

Whatever the drivers of political revolutions are, they seek political stability, justice and equality at their core. Aristotle observed "Inequality is generally at the bottom of internal warfare in states". The Iranian Revolution 1979 sought social justice, equality and democracy and established a new regime in Iran by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini following drastic changes in social fabric, governance model and political outlook of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

In order to govern the state, Wilayat al-faqih is a concept driven by Imam Khomeini according to which a position of wilayat is established which replaces the position on Imam by Wali, a Jurist who practices religious authority and guide the Ummah according to the tenets of Islam. In this system, there is a shura, viz a viz a Parliament. Ummah is the populace who has given political authority as well. It implies revolution in Iran refuses to adopt Western version of Democracy and democratize Iran according to the principles of Islam.

It is worth mentioning here that shi'i sect of Islam firmly believes in occultation, a period of absence of last Imam named Mehdi who is entitled to rule Ummah in series of twelve Imams. On this point, there was division in Shi'i is because there were two major schools in shi'I jurisprudence.

The one is Usuli school of thought and another one is Akhbari school of thought. Both had different beliefs in terms of delegating authority to the ruler of Republic. Akhbaris believed that Ummah should wait for the last Imam unless until he came out of occultation but Usuli believes that...

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