What is actually wrong?

Khamenei and Ahmadinejad

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What is actually wrong?
by Iqbal Latif
24-Oct-2011
 

It is hilarious to see powdered, rosy cheek, fully decked and made-up Ahmadinejad on CNN cultivating a moderate image!

A unique quick transformation from a recent Philistine status for someone who is regarded as uncouth, ignorant, uncultured, and indifferent or hostile to artistic and intellectual achievement to enlightened, cultured, progressive and symbol of toleration. May I suggest that two Latin terms define his actions first Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) the other Pelle sub agnina latitat mens saepe lupina. (Under a sheep’s skin often hides a wolfish mind)

Fareed Zakaria on his status updates from Tehran reported that according to the talk of the people he met in Tehran with was of the rift between President Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

'Now what is hard for most Westerners to understand is that in this debate in Iran, Ahmadinejad is the moderate one. He has been trying to clip the wings of the clergy; he has advocated loosening up some of the restrictions on women; he speaks of Iran's pres-Islamic past. And many here believe that he wants to be the Iranian president who normalizes relations with the United States. But with all that is going on now - between the Saudi plot and the nuclear deadlock - that appears a distant prospect.'

President Ahmadinejad double speak in the CNN interview gives me a hideous sensation of a onset of new-fangled impetus to the confrontation that is so evidently unsettling for the presentSupreme Leader. Mr Ahmadinejad on CNN is refining a restrained image to make his final assault to wrest control on the nucleus and hub of the Iranian present orthodox regime. For months there is increasing bad blood between the ruling theocracy that has been piling pressure on Ahmadinejad and arresting his allies to blunt his to challenge the near-absolute authority of the cleric-ruled system that has controlled Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Supreme leader warning that the post of elected president could someday be scrapped has put some cat amongst the pigeons in the Presidents camp. The direct and harsh words by Khamenei advocate a wide agenda: additional contraction of leash accorded to Ahmadinejad and warning to others in the wings like 'Rafsanjani' that orthodoxy are ready to take drastic measures to protect what’s theirs. Though no immediate threat of overhauls appear on the horizon after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comment but the mere mention of eliminating Iran’s highest elected office shows the severity and scope of the power struggle between Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

President Ahmadinejad unquestionably has in response upped the game and has challenged the authority of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The Islamic Republic is unable to steer clear of the process of dialectical materialism; the Marxian concept of reality in which material things are in the constant process of change brought about by the tension between conflicting or interacting forces, elements, or ideas. The implosion of a system based on hierarchy of sacredness is in entirety of evolution. The dynamics of conflict within echelons of power has its own momentum, I feel the rising temperatures within the power structure. May be Iranian street and bazaars will now have to go through the embarrassment to add the name of Ahmadinejad to list of ex-wolves - present sheep's moderates like Khatami, Mousavi and Rafsanjani! In a country where Mullah producing and patronising factories in Qom produces 20,000-25,000 Mujtahids every year what option one has?

The most important figure in Iran of today is Ayatollah Khamenei in his role as Supreme Leader; he has repeatedly denounced the West, and in particular the United States. His veto is final in Iranian political affairs. He is an 'Icon' of country's conservative establishment and one of the three defining influences of the revolution a bedrock on which the clerical rule rests. (the other two being the founder of the republic, Ayatollah Khomeini, and the president of Iran for much of the 1990s, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani )

In June, 1989 when the Assembly of Experts appointed him to succeed Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader of Iran who was a Source of Emulation, the constitution had to be amended to allow the post to be held by a lower-ranking theologian. since June 1989. As a president for two successive terms from 1981-1989 he was frequently at odds with the Prime Minister, Ali Hossein Mousavi, whom he alleged as left-leaning. Irony is that Mr Mousavi had then the total backing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. Their conflicting views on economic, social and sacrosanct policies were left to aggravate. On becoming the Supreme Leader on the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, he revised the constitution and abolished the post of prime minister. He definitely lacks the charm and popular support of his predecessor.

His 1997 clashes with Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, a respected scholar who ranked higher in the hierarchy and who questioned the powers of the Supreme Leader led to the closure of his religious school, an attack on his office in Qom and to a period of house arrest. Ayatollah Khamenei has time after time backed the decision-making role of the old-fashioned and traditionalist Guardian Council.

For any theocratic coup d'état against the Supreme President Ahmadinejad seemingly must have high of hopes from Majles-e Khebregan-e Rahbari afterall Mahdavi Kani, bumped off Rafsanjani and was elected in March 2011 with Ahmadinejad hard-line support.

Yesterday hardliners are today's moderate, imagine this statement from Rafsanjani the moderate face of the Iran today 'When the shah gave us freedoms, we drove him out of the country. We won't make that mistake ourselves.'

One really doesn't know who is the sheep or who is the wolf; everyone cross dresses in the Majles-e Khebregan-e Rahbari, a deliberative body of 86 Mujtahids that is charged with electing and removing the Supreme Leader of Iran and supervising his activities.

One needs to remember that the election for the fourth assembly 2007 had one particular note that was the victory of pragmatistAyatollah Rafsanjani list, over hard-line candidates associated with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for positions in the 86-member Assembly of Experts. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was re-elected as chairman. In March 2011 Rafsanjani lost his post as head of the powerful Assembly of Experts as a result of intensive lobbying by "hardliners and supporters" of presidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad , replaced by Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani. Rafsanjani withdrew from the election for head to "avoid division." The current chairman of the Assembly Mahdavi Kani, elected in March 2011. Assembly of Experts is elected every 8 years the term formed in 2007, will exceptionally last ten years due to the "election aggregation" plan of Iran, put into place to allow the government to run one simultaneous election for both the Assembly of Experts and Parliament, thereby economizing election costs.

To dislodge the power of the Supreme leader President Ahmadinejad has taken Rafsanjani centrist and "pragmaticconservative "position. He supports a free market position domestically, favouring privatization of state-owned industries, and a moderate position internationally, seeks to avoid conflict with the United States and the West.

The big question is will Rafsanjani support ex-rival and loathed Ahmadinejad? Like Supreme Soviet in 1990, Iranian orthodox system is giving up as the demands of the people cannot be met by intransigence of the sacrosanct antiquated ideological beliefs. From Bazargan to Mousavi and now may be Ahmadinejad have all realised at long last that 'Imam's kite cannot fly' the bread and butter of the world requires both duniya and Ikharat!

His pre-occupation with grandiosity of 'Mahdaviat':

I have a little suspicions of Mr Ahmadinejad who might have some hallucinations and illusions of far greater cause, he may have thoughts of a bigger role for his corporeal menial existence that of the 12th Imam. Everyone recalls the occurrence of sacred rapture during the UN speech he was giving. Mr Ahmadinejad explained how one of his colleagues claimed to have seen a glow of light around the president as he began his speech to the UN. Ahmadinejad 'Mahdaviat' is close to his heart and that demands 'Global Chaos Creation.' "Presidential obsession" with 'Mahdiviat' leads Mr. Ahmadinejad to "a conviction that leaves little room for compromise. He thinks that the Mahdi will come in near future as his knight in shining armour? The only missing link that in Presidents opinion delays Mahdi's arrival is that world is still far too peaceful, the degree of clash and disasters that will set the chain of celestial events of 'Mahdiviat' have to gather speed.

The altercation with America and Israel and wish to empower Iran with nuclear programs are all designed to lay the foundation for the Mahdi's return." Creation of universal strife and commotion is very much a part of Mahdiviat. Peace and cohabitation in the world means 'Mahdiviat' becomes superfluous. Iranian President is duty bound to help create environ which is conducive to Mahdi return, unfortunately 'universal peace' does not help the prophecies that are integral part of his understanding of the scriptures.

The President does puts his money where his mind is, in 2004, as mayor of Tehran, Mr. Ahmadinejad clandestinely instructed the city council to construct a magnificent boulevard to orchestrate and prepare for the Mahdi arrival, as a President he has allocated $17 million for a blue-tiled mosque closely associated with mahdaviat in Jamkaran, south of the capital. Ahmadinejad is actually under the impression that the Mahdi is going to reappear soon, he has been anticipating for far too long. In a 'hadith' widely regarded as authentic, Prophet Muhammad stated:

"Even if the entire duration of the world's existence has already been exhausted and only one day is left before the Day of Judgment, God (Arabic: Allah) will expand that day to such a length of time, as to accommodate the kingdom of a person out of my Ahl al-Bayt who will be called by my name. He will then fill the Earth with peace and justice as it will have been filled with injustice and tyranny before then." Sahih Tirmidhi, V2, P86, V9, P74-75.

His effort to present a new powdered and smart beautified image is in my opinion new basis of his believe that he may be the 'vessel' in which the Imam may return to establish the rule of God on earth, a messianic prophecy being satisfied by 'The President.' A Good-looking 12th Imam is vital and his CNN pose is the best effort from worn-down, faded and fatigued image of ex-Mayor of Tehran.

"I felt it myself too," Mr Ahmadinejad recounts. "I felt that all of a sudden the atmosphere changed there. And for 27-28 minutes all the leaders did not blink…It's not an exaggeration, because I was looking."They were astonished, as if a hand held them there and made them sit. It had opened their eyes and ears for the message of the Islamic Republic."The actual reason for any open-eyed stares from delegates was that "they couldn't believe what they were hearing from Ahmadinejad".

Their niggling doubt is that Iran's president in fact relish a conflict with the West in the belief that it would reawaken the courage of the Islamic revolution and speed up the arrival of the Hidden Imam. Present insanity, psychosis, wars and craftiness in politics of the Middle East has religious historical conjecture; higher the chaos and bigger the noise, the greater the chances of a divine intervention. Very few in the West can understand the undercurrents of self- obliteration so evident in 'Mahdaviat.'

In opinion of the present 'Hujjati leadership' the higher the level of 'expectation' greater is the degree of their devoutness. To hasten coming of Imam they consider their right to further the mayhem and bedlam, after all the global level of chaos has to increase in frequency and intensity so that Imam finally decides to appear. The bloodier the earth becomes, the higher the chances of emergence of Imam are from greater Occultation, lesser the civility the better are the chances, so the 'leadership' is sincerely bound by their ideological belief to create problems. In effect 'increased expectations of coming of Imam' have justified their inclination of intensified wicked doings. Ideology has helped 'global chaos creation' as a corner stone of the state policy.

Muhammad al Mahdi ((868- ?- the guided) is the 12th and last Imam of the Twelver Shi'i, and is also known as Muhammad al Muntazar (the awaited). The Twelver Shi'i believe that he was born to a Byzantine slave named Narjis Khatun, and that his birth was kept quiet by his father, the Eleventh Imam, Hassan al Askari, because of the intense persecution of the Shi'is at that time. Mahdi is a 'Myth'; all non-secular societies expect help from heavens when they make an error of judgment in earthly affairs. Two recent examples are, that of Ahmadinejad and Muttawakil (Taliban FM), both looking to lead the 'kingdom of justice' with heavenly help before the Day of Judgment that 'Mahdi' will institute.

The Taliban's preoccupation with heavenly help is well known- their FM; Muttawakil expected the heavenly forces to protect Taliban from destruction of the US forces: the birds will appear from heavens and destroy the planes and attackers like they did in times of Abraha. He invoked this passage from Quran in a pre-Afghan war interview; ( Surat al-Fîl): 'Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant? Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray? And He sent against them flights of Birds Striking them with stones of baked clay. Then did He make them like an empty field of stalks and straw (of which the corn) has been eaten up.'[Qur'ân: 105]

The Mahdi, according to majority Sunni and Shi'ite tradition, will arise at some point before the Day of Judgment, institute a kingdom of justice, and will in the last days fight alongside the returned Jesus against the Dajjal (Antichrist or false Messiah). Mahdi hidden since birth, reappeared at age of 6 to assert his claim to the Imamate, only to then disappear down a well to avoid the sad fate of his father and grandfather. For the next seventy years he maintained contact with his followers through a succession of four assistants, each known as Bab (Gate), Uthman al Amir; his son Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Uthman; Abu'l Qasim Husayn ibn Ruh an Nawbakhti; and Abu'l Husayn Ali ibn Muhammad as Samarri. The period when he used the 4 Babs as his form of contacting the Shi'is is known as the Lesser Occultation.

On his deathbed in 941 CE, the fourth Bab, as Samarri produced a letter from the Imam stating that there should be no successor to as Samarri and that from that time forward the Mahdi would not be seen until he reappeared as champion of the faithful in the events leading to the Judgement Day. Therefore, after 941 CE there has been no earthly _expression of the Imamate. This period is known as the Greater Occultation. Titles of the 12th Imam include: Sahib az Zaman (Master of the Age), Sahib al Amr (Master of Command), al Qa'im (the one to arise), Bagiyyat Allah (remnant of Allah) and Imam al Muntazar (the awaited Imam). – anyone who has professed to be the Mahdi so far has been cruelly dealt with, killed or banished, so this myth is likely to continue; a legend for time immemorial; a cultish folklore religious chronicle which will never end because the hero, i.e., 'The Mahdi,' as soon as one claims to be so, will face charges of apostasy.

I don't think that "Khomienites' "expected Mahdi" and 'Wahhabis' "return of Christ," short of Allah climbing down on earth from his heavenly throne can be easily agreeable as authorities vested in a mortal completely wrest controls from the present rulers of these countries. How can these self appointed leaders and despots give control to someone who appears new and claims authority from Allah, even his is the one he will be dealt the way previous appearances have been handled. 'Mahdi' and 'return of Christ' within the orthodoxy of Islam is like their faith in 'Allah' as far as the omnipotent and omnipresent remains hidden and without a physical form the conviction is crystal-clear, however a 'corporeal existence' would breed scorn. The Shiites and the Sunnis universal acceptance is implausible as scripture based verification processes are at two extremities.

The present divisions within Islam are so wide apart that they cannot agree on a 'set' of claimants for such a holy title. One should not forget that these holy figures will carry the combined authority of the Prophet and Allah, so 'Saudis and Khomienites' will have to give up the key of 'oil and treasury' to the claimant; the temporal and the sacred power will be invested in these expected manifestation who would lead them to ultimate victory. Anytime any manifestation made such a claim in Saudia and Iran, he has been dealt with an iron fist. Many people through history have claimed to be the Mahdi, a messianic figure expected in Islam. These have had varying degrees of success in convincing fellow Muslims of their station. However, the predominant set of Muslims regards them as false claimants, or pretenders. These claimants were often at the centre of political intrigue or radical social upheaval. In the 8th century was Salih ibn Tarif - 10th century-Said ibn Husayn-12th century Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tumart-15th century Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri -19th century Siyyid 'Alí-Muhammad (The Báb)- Muhammad Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad 20th century- Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan Juhayman ibn-Muhammad ibn-Sayf al-Utaibi. Ahmadinejad as well as King Abdullah and Ummah as a whole will make sure to behead any impostor who would have dared announce such a ' undertaking.'

Belief is one thing, acceptance in him is quite a different matter, they all sincerely belief in the holy arrivals rather it is a cardinal sin to question, who will certify them from 'Allah' is something that has so far remains unanswered. I am sure that someone appearing would meet the fate of others that were considered as heretic and impostors. Even a fair hearing is not accorded to any claimant; he starts from the unenviable station of falsehood. The barrier to meet the criteria of 'Allah appointed' is too towering. Egyptians refused Moses, Jews thought of Christ as superfluous, Qurayyash rebuked Mohammed, how would Ahmadinejad accept someone appearing as ordained from Allah?

It is satisfying for Ahmadinejad to expect deliverance from Allah for his nation that is falling behind in keeping in progress with the world, the notion of a divine leadership that will take them to the top is very intoxicating and opiate. The 'failures' of today can be postponed on 'deliverance' expected from appearance of Imam, this sells politically very well. The myth has to linger on it is the very 'veiled nature' of the passion that gives momentum and strength to the political grandstanding, rather may be political grandstanding find its roots in the divine assurances of the deliverance from the shackles of the infidels.

This whole 'Mahdi' thing is a cerebral fascination; it definitely helps the society that links clash and chaos to unfolding of a greater goal. A legendry saga has become a pseudo truth that might never come to pass but the hope that Islam will recoup the splendour of the past gives glimmering anticipation to the faithful. Ahmadinejad believes that one day the Imam will lead him to the obliteration of his entire class of enemies, eventually the faithful will reign supreme. The hurdles for any claimant are too high to surmount. It is a great feeling to have a Mahdi, but no good enough a mortal will satisfy the expectations. President Ahmadinejad for sure will cast the first stone to bury the man.

At the moment his confrontation with his present spiritual boss Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is no small stake game; his Mahdiviat and survival depends on the outcome of this encounter. Ayatollah is no hushed silent lamb, he knows how to bite hard, this CNN interview signals the beginning of the end game for the President short of a coup d'état in . Rosy cheeked Mr Ahmadinejad come across pleasant and 'a new wolf in a brand-new sheep clothing' enters the arena of unfamiliar territory. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing is an idiom of Biblical origin The phrase originates in a sermon by Jesus recorded in the Christian New Testament: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Gospel of Matthew 7:15 - King James Version). The sermon then suggests that their true nature will be revealed by their actions (by their fruits shall ye know them, verse 16). If you are a sheep Mr. President break the chains of dogma and orthodoxy and bring all those walls of oppression down. Free Iran from the vestiges of ignorance and decline. That is the only way your true nature will be revealed!

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Iqbal Latif

73 of the 290 lawmakers sign petition to question Ahmadinejad!

by Iqbal Latif on

Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:55 PM GMT A scandal surrounding a $2.6 billion bank fraud, the biggest financial abuse case in Iran's history, has given Ahmadinejad's opponents the opportunity to humble the president and his supporters ahead of the parliamentary election. Parliament has begun steps to oust his economy minister, and on Sunday 73 of the 290 lawmakers — just above the required 25 percent threshold — signed a petition to question Ahmadinejad on the investigation.None of this pressures could have come without approval from Khamenei, who has the final say in all key matters.

Ahmadinejad is not directly linked to the corruption investigation and faces no apparent danger of being toppled. And it's still unclear when — or if — he could be ordered to appear in the chamber.

Ahmadinejad is accused by opponents of crossing the ultimate red line in Iran: Trying to expand the powers of the presidency to challenge the near-absolute authority of Khamenei, who heads the ruling theocracy.

Dozens of Ahmadinejad's allies have been arrested or driven off the political map. Ahmadinejad's protege and closest aide, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, has been vilified in state media as leader of a "deviant current" that seeks to compromise the Islamic system.

In recent months, Khamenei intervened to block several attempts by lawmakers to question Ahmadinejad. The apparent reason was to protect Iran's image and avoid uncomfortable scenes of Ahmadinejad facing angry parliament critics.

But Khamenei could let events take their course this time, some experts say, as his statements suggest a more aggressive stance against perceived threats to the Islamic system. 


Iqbal Latif

Why the shiite's have here 2 ayatollahs? there is only one pope

by Iqbal Latif on


Why the shiaa's have here 2 ayatollas?


Mazair Joon, Sorry, need some detailed response to your very pertinent question:

To understand the background of this schism between Qum and Najaf, one needs to look profoundly at contemporary centers of Shi'ites learning's. Four senior Grand Ayatollahs constitute the Religious Institution (al-Hawzah al-'Ilmiyyah) in Najaf, the preeminent seminary center for the training of Shiite clergymen. Before the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, Najaf was the most important center of study for Shia religious leaders.

However, Saddam Hussein ordered mass arrests and the expulsion of senior clerics, giving the Iranian seminary in the city of Qom the opportunity to take over the religious leadership of the Shias. Qom became the pre-eminent religious center for Shia Muslims since the Iranian revolution, however, Najaf has a history of more than a millennium of leadership, and the Iranian clerics who run the holy city of Qum, are facing a revived rival.

As of mid-2003 the seminary in Qom hosted between 40,000 and 50,000 clergy, while the number in Najaf stood at about 2,000, down from about 10,000 before the Ba'ath regime took. The first exodus from Qom to Najaf is expected to be by exiled Iraqi clerics, estimated to number between 3,000, and 5,000.

At the heart of schism lies reluctance of seminary of Najaf to get involved in worldly affairs -- in essence al-Hawzah al-'Ilmiyyah in Najaf wants to shield the highest Shi'ite religious leadership, the marjaiyya, from politics - this is an old tension within Shi'ite Islam between two conflicting tendencies, quietism and activism.

Whether clerics should confine their activities to religious affairs or also seek a role in politics has been a matter of fierce debate among Shi'ites for well over a century. Sunnis, who in theory are expected to obey their rulers and even tolerate a tyrant in order to avoid civil strife and preserve the cohesion of the Muslim community, observant Shi'ites recognize no authority on earth except that of the imam.

The twelfth imam is believed to be hidden from view and is expected to return one day as a messianic figure, the Mahdi. In his absence, there can be no human sovereign who is fully legitimate. This ambivalence toward worldly power has resulted in different interpretations within Shi'ite Islam regarding government accountability and the role of the clerics in state affairs. Imam Khomeini's concept of the rule of the jurist is only one among several competing views.

Qom is worried to face a challenge over the concept of the Velayat-e-Faqih - the God-given authority for a top religious leader to oversee secular in the absence of the Prophet Mohammad and infallible imams. The Najaf seminary's view of the Velayat-e-Faqih is that of a supervisor and adviser. The Qom school believes the opposite, with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially considered as the highest religious authority of the world's Shias. Qom sees the direct involvement of clerics in state ruling and executive affairs as their legitimate right and moral obligation.

The battle of wills in present altercation was undoubtedly won by the elder grand Ayatollah Sistani and his favored doctrine of "quietism" won over calls of "activism." From designed chaos aimed at popular uprising of the South to peaceful withdrawal Sistani political maneuverings helped defuse the crisis, in the process he has emerged as a new force to reckon with. Iranian born Sistani plan to have higher goals his ambitions of Shiite heart and soul stems from his desire to shift the thrust of Shiite theocracy from Qum to Najaf and Karbela. 


Iqbal Latif

In this connected world all springs will lead to flowers!!

by Iqbal Latif on

In this connected world all springs will lead to flowers, there are no autumns, autumns are for the tyrants! Man is free and expresses itself freely. Iran is on its way towards a long everlasting spring. Iran had its botched disastrous spring in 1979, they are31 years ahead to unchain their ties from the archaic mindset. The implosion will come form within, the system is going through a severe dialect, internal destruction as freedom of man cannot be compromised any further.  

VF and Resurrection of Christ is symbolic allegorical myths, there is no substance to it. Nothing will come from skies if nations will not correct their course of action. The message of freedom and liberty is the unsurpassed pioneer to resolve of human misery. We need reason, logic and compassionate ecclesiastical priestly control if so required as an opiate drug so that faithful can be weaned off initially under its tutelage, once they are mature and rationalist it can be discarded to posterity.

I was reading a book called 'Death of Nations in Civilization Clash' the most important part is the conclusion. Dr. James Leigh foresees the present fragmenting world to move towards continent-wide civilizational superpowers. According to him this looming world will be made up of: a German-led Catholic Europe, an Asian conglomerate centred around China and Russia, and a largely Pan Arab Islamist bloc under Iran. An explosive mix of rival nuclear powers, leading to full scale contention and military conflict, with mass-destruction weapons.

A solution to this impending world at war is a change in the mind of mankind to one of benevolence, sharing and charity to replace competition, conflict and strife. Perhaps, I diverge with the idea of 'conglomerate civilisations' as envisaged by him but agree with his conclusion that we need to bring 'charity of mind' in the play if we need to control the transgression of non state players. Charity of minds will come if ideologues see beyond the tip of their nose. The religious self righteous demagogues are the greatest threat to mankind.

Therefore recantation and refutation of terror by the man who provided the hypothesis on which the infrastructure of terror was contracted is music to my ears, I have written about this candidly and comprehensively. The reason Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan are suffering from internal dissent and implosion is due to imposition of 'guardians of truth' on minds of free man. The crescent of Islam from Morocco to Afghanistan needs independence and sovereignty of thinking, the only way forward is unequivocal stand and censure against spilling of innocent lives.

To adopt a rationalist, humanist and tolerant approach to life and allow all flowers to flourish is the essence of Renaissance and Reformation. I believe that until  'Destiny' persevered over reason and logic-and Lenient ecclesiastical and priestly control once again tightened over the free Muslim people. With the will of Allah sufficing to explain everything risk no longer matter and Muslim commerce began to dramatically suffer. The banking and finance capitals that could have emerged in the coastal cities and regions of Alexandria, the Yemen and Sumatra, as rivals to Europe were stemmed in their infancy. Any belief that employs "guardians of truth'' on shaping of landscape of intellect will implode. It is said that 'Crutches of faith are introduced when reason sink exhausted.' It is an paradox that when curtain of dogma was descending within the Islamic lands killing free thinking it was slowly and steadily rising in Italy and northern Europe.''

 

 

 


maziar 58

A simple question

by maziar 58 on

And a short one...

Mr. Latif

Why the shiaa's have here 2 ayatollas?

If they are supposed to be as top marjaa?

there is only one pope right ? 

Maziar


Esfand Aashena

So I guess we'll have to see the Arab Spring w/out the VF!

by Esfand Aashena on

Iran's Islamic Republic isn't really a "Republic" because VF can nullify people's vote.  As Khomeini did to Bani Sadr and Khamanei did to Mousavi.

The new Governments in Libya and Tunisia will most likely have Islamic elements to it.  So far in Tunisia the Islamic section has the majority in the council that will draft the constitution.

So the Shiite Islamic Republic went down the toilet and we'll see about a Sunni Islamic Republic.  Iraq is probably semi Shiite/ semi Sunni! 

Everything is sacred


Iqbal Latif

Grand Ayatollah Sistani and his favored doctrine of "quietism"

by Iqbal Latif on

 


@Would you please write more on Sistanis definition of VF?

It is all here on iranian.com :

 

This is just the beginning of the story of how Shiite rule in Iran is going to suffer the disasters of dialect. This article deals with road map of change, the implosion from within that we have been talking about for last decade on the Iranian. Najaf 1 - Qom 0.

 

Theologically the thesis of Vilayat-i Faqih was rejected by almost the entire dozen grand ayatollahs living in 1981 like Abu al-Qasim al-Khu'i and Shariat Madari (who died in 1986), openly opposed Khomeini. Gulpaygani, al-Qummi, al-Shirazi, and al-Najaf al-Mar'ashi maintained a distance or Takiya.

I see fault line emerging and the 'quietism' of those Ayatollahs who were in majority and were sidelined on concept of VF is becoming a more sustained challenge. 

 

Ironically only one Grand Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri Najafabadi approved the concept. His 'Dirasat fi Vilayah al-Faqih' gave legitimacy to Khomeinism claim.Imagine what he did to his closest ally and ideological consort.

 

May be Rafsanjani and others will now opt for Sistani model. I am sorry it is definitely very long and maybe it is my fault, but the subject of 1400 years of schisms needs some justice and background; the Iranians diasporas need to be aware of those historical elements that will implode to bring the change.Qom apprehends a challenge over the concept of the Velayat-e-Faqih — the divine authority of a top religious leader in the absencof the infallible imams.

 

The Najaf seminary’s view of the Velayat-e-Faqih is that of a supervisor and adviser. The Qom school believes in direct intervention by clerics in executive affairs being their legitimate right and moral obligation.

Many things helped Khomeini, his intransigence was one.

Others are the prophesy that is allegedly said to originate from Musa al-Kazim shortly before his death in 799 that 'a man will come out from Qom and he will summon people to the right path. They will rally to him people resembling pieces of iron, not to be shaken by violent winds, unsparing and relying on God.'

I believe Khomeini also benefitted the most from 1977 death of Dr. Ali Shariati. Also don't forget that story of face in the moon. I see Shiite quietism to return; the schism I have talked about for last few years, will be the result of this whole revolution, geo politics of the area will not help Iranian mullahcracy, with Syria gone and Turkey taking a key role the era of more freedom based and democray Khomeini was a single minded puritan of supreme order, disciplined, detached, distant from the concept of loyalty to the motherland, burning desire to change Iran to become Dar al-Islam, whereas for most of Iranians it is the other way. When Peter Jennings asked him on his return to Iran in a AF plane his answer was classically dispassionate, nonchalant: "What do you feel in returning to Iran?" Khomeini answered in a cynical tone: "Hichi!

 


Schism within contemporary Shi'ism


August 30, 2004
iranian.com

 


Qom is worried to face a challenge over the concept of the Velayat-e-Faqih - the God-given authority for a top religious leader to oversee secular in the absence of the Prophet Mohammad and infallible imams. The Najaf seminary's view of the Velayat-e-Faqih is that of a supervisor and adviser. The Qom school believes the opposite, with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially considered as the highest religious authority of the world's Shias. Qom sees the direct involvement of clerics in state ruling and executive affairs as their legitimate right and moral obligation.


The battle of wills in present altercation was undoubtedly won by the elder grand Ayatollah Sistani and his favored doctrine of "quietism" won over calls of "activism."
From designed chaos aimed at popular uprising of the South to peaceful withdrawal Sistani political maneuverings helped defuse the crisis, in the process he has emerged as a new force to reckon with. Iranian born Sistani plan to have higher goals his ambitions of Shiite heart and soul stems from his desire to shift the thrust of Shiite theocracy from Qum to Najaf and Karbela.

 

This was a major victory of the al-Hawzah al-'Ilmiyyah and the marjaiyya in Najaf over that of Ayatollahs of Qom, this may not be the last one too, in political pragmatism it is clear that Sistani keeps his cards very close his chest, when he decides to play he plays them well too.

//iranian.com/IqbalLatif/2004/August/Iraq/index.html

From Qom to Najaf



Sistani and Sadr fight for the heart and soul of Iraq's Shiite mainstream

 

September 29, 2005
iranian.com

 

At the heart of schism lies reluctance of seminary of Najaf to get involved in worldly affairs -- in essence al-Hawzah al-'Ilmiyyah in Najaf wants to shield the highest Shi'ite religious leadership, the marjaiyya, from politics - this is an old tension within Shi'ite Islam between two conflicting tendencies, quietism and activism. Qom is worried to face a challenge over the concept of the Velayat-e-Faqih - the God-given authority for a top religious leader to oversee secular in the absence of the Prophet Mohammad and infallible imams. The Najaf seminary's view of the Velayat-e-Faqih is that of a supervisor and adviser.

 

The Qom school believes the opposite, with Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officially considered as the highest religious authority of the world's Shias. Qom sees the direct involvement of clerics in state ruling and executive affairs as their legitimate right and moral obligation. For the world, separation of church from government is the perfect solution. The present clash of Qom and Najaf impinge on supremacy of Shiite Islam, success of a quietist Ali Sistani over zealots mullahs of Teheran will help reduce a lot of tensions in eastern Saudi Arabia. The ideological akhbari nature of Shiite south will lead to resurgence of 'quietism‚ in Iraq


//iranian.com/IqbalLatif/2005/September/Hope/index.html

 


May be it was not a war against Islam but a war for Islam!


Iqbal Latif- Zachary Latif

Tue 26 Apr 2005

 


Iraqis at any rate are historically a very secular population and seem alien to the orthodox "desert" Islam that is said to be practised from Morocco to Pakistan (whereas the lands from Bangladesh to Indonesia practise the variant known as "Monsoon Islam" derived significantly from Hindu culture). As the war taught us Iraq is pretty much a few scattered cities in Al-Jazirah (the island between the Tigris and the Euphrates) and the tribes in the desert as far as the eye can see. In the years of infrastructure and redevelopment the possibility of the population turning to extremist Islam seems rather far-fetched for relatively active and burgeoning economies tend to have politically apathetic populations.



Iraqi Shi'ism does not allow for a strong religious presence in the government, the Ayatollahs may be running the show in Basra but they are theologically prohibited from wielding power in the style of Khomeini. It isn't in the culture of south Iraq (or of any other Islamic nation) to embrace a theocratic form of government as in Iran.


//www.islamdaily.org/en/islam/2810.may-be-it-was-not-a-war-against-islam-but-a-war-fo.htm


vildemose

 Excellent article. Would

by vildemose on

 Excellent article. Would you please write more on Sistanis definition of VF?

 

"We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis D. Brandeis


Iqbal Latif

Najaf 1 - Qom 0

by Iqbal Latif on

This is just the beginning of the story of how Shiite rule
in Iran is going to suffer the disasters of dialect. I am sorry it is definitely very long and maybe it is my
fault, but the subject of 1400 years of schisms needs some justice and
background; the Iranians diasporas need to be aware of those historical
elements that will implode to bring the change.

 

 

 


Veiled Prophet of Khorasan

Well said Mort

by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on

 

I second that on all posts specially some professors who write 3-6 page long posts!


Iqbal Latif

Who issued visa for entrance ? Zakaria entrance to Iran

by Iqbal Latif on

 Ahmadinejad  for promotion of  Ahmadinejad! 

 

It is hilarious to see powdered, rosy cheek, fully decked and made-up Ahmadinejad on CNN cultivating a moderate image!

 


Mort Gilani

A Friendly Suggestion

by Mort Gilani on

Please limit your articles to 3-5 paragraphs if you're interested in getting your point across to average readers like me.