A Modern Shia Revival

INTRODUCTION

            The Middle East has long been home to an age-old conflict that, at its core, deals with the division of two major Muslim factions in the region. From these two groups, we see a divided history that dates back to 632 C.E. and the rightful successor of the prophet, Muhammad. Subsequent to his death, the Islamic faith began to take on two distinct identities that were conceived by (1) followers of the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, Ali, and (2) followers of the prophet’s close friend and father-in-law, Abu Bakr. The first group, calling themselves “Shia,” is the minority today and make up only about 10% of Muslims worldwide; the latter group, representing the majority, are dubbed as “Sunnis” and have, in recent years, had most of the political control in the Middle East. The two Muslim sects have their religious roots deeply embedded in everyday life – affecting their traditions, lifestyle and, ultimately, politics. However, following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Shia gained a significant voice in Middle Eastern politics. Today, the Shia continue their march toward equality and wider representation in the region despite Sunni opposition. Investigating the history of the Islamic faith and the quarrel between its two religious groups can only create a clearer picture of the Muslim community at large and the events that shape Middle Eastern politics today.

PHILOSPHICAL DIFFERENCES

            The Islamic faith came to origin in the seventh century with the prophet, Muhammad. After his death, disputes over the rightful leader of the faith divided the religion’s followers into two groups, the Shia and the Sunnis. The Shia organized around Muhammad’s blood-relative and cousin, Ali, while Sunnis chose to have Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s close friend and father-in-law, as their religious leader. However, following the assassination of Ali by Muawiya, Shia resentment towards the opposing Sunni took on a new odium. The Shia people “evolved as moral and religious resistance to Sunni authority” and thus, “to survive…grew insular;” today, their people continue to “challenge the political authority of the caliphs” and have found security within Iranian and, quite recently, Iraqi borders.

The Shia have remained a fairly small community within the Islamic faith while the Sunnis, on the other hand, amount to nearly 90% of all Muslims. According to Sunni doctrine, they are the orthodox branch of Islam and represent a traditional approach to the religion. The basis for their teachings revolves solely on the Quran and includes the acceptance of two types of leaders – a religious leader and a political leader. Whereas the Shia recognize one religious and political figure, Sunnis have more of a separation between church and state. They don’t believe that it is a religious figure’s birthright to lead the religion, nor do they accept the opinion of their political figure to be absolute.      Despite their division, “the two communities share fundamental beliefs - the "oneness" of Allah, that Muhammad was the last prophet, prayer, fasting and the pilgrimage to Mecca for example” (BBC News). Nevertheless, the fact remains that the two groups remain much divided. The treatment of one another depends on the leadership of the given community – for Sunni in Iran, gaining a significant voice has proved very difficult.

POLITICAL DIFFERENCES

            Within the Islamic faith, religion and politics are acutely connected. This relationship stems from the original disagreement concerning the rightful leader of the religion. Ergo, Muslims sharing similar theological beliefs pertaining to the foundations of the Islamic faith tend to convene together in similar political realms as well. Shia, for the most part, represent the poorest of inhabitants in countries like Lebanon and are widely seen as unsophisticated and low class citizens. It’s this discrimination that has divided the Muslim community into two opposing sects and continues the two contrasting notions concerning leadership. According to Shia doctrine, political and religious leadership should be intertwined and come from the same source whereas Sunnis maintain the idea that there is a clear division between political and religious figures. This opposition has manifested itself through the creation of Shia-controlled Iran and the unique “Islamic Republic” style of government in place.

SHIA DISCRIMINATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Because the Shia-Sunni quarrel dates back centuries, discrimination of the minority is deeply embedded in the roots of Middle Eastern history. The Shia have widely been persecuted due to the posing threat they have had on the Sunni over time:

“Militarily established and holding control over the Umayyad government, many Sunni rulers perceived the Shia as a threat – both to their political and religious authority…the Sunni rulers under the Umayyads sought to marginalize the Shia minority and later the Abbasids turned on their Shia allies and further imprisoned, persecuted, and killed Shias” (Nasr 52).

In recent years, the gaining support for the Shia people, especially post-Iranian Revolution, has propelled this trepidation further. The Shia are widely seen as simple and low class people who need to be controlled throughout the Middle East. Discrimination extends from most corners of the Arab-speaking world and threatens the livelihood of the faith.  

THE RISE OF IRAN

            By 1979, growing hatred for the Iranian Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, reached a tipping point. The growing neglect the Shah developed towards the Shia religious clergy over disputed issues like modernization and his ostracized authoritarian rule, proved to be fatal. The Iranian people were also not pleased by the way their country had become a puppet for the United States. Following the revolution, they brought back Ayatollah Khomeini to lead, ultimately showing their regained strength as a Shia nation. With Khomeini in power, changes were made to bring back the Shia clerical presence in the government that had been lacking with the Shah. With the return of a combined religious and political state, Iran could now more effectively launch its anti-American agenda and become a stronger, but insolated, country. Today, Iran continues to refer to the United States as “The Great Satan” because of our dark past which includes putting the Shah in power for our own interests. Despite the Shah’s ability to modernize Iran and bring about some good change, the country is seen in this era as stronger because of the regrouping and restorations it’s made within its borders.

CONCLUSION

The Iran that we see today is in many ways different from the Iran of the mid-twentieth century led by the Shah. Since the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005 and most certainly since the election of Ali Khamenei in 1989, Iran has seen the formation of a true Shia state; by taking on such a title, Iran accepts the terms of the religion which may or may not be suitable to the interests of many Westerners – perhaps even some native Iranians, thus opening up the possibility for revolution. The Shah’s Iran sought to bring about modernization, education reform and a clear step towards a secular nation. By directly merging the Shia religion with Iranian politics, the country has in affect strengthened its power and put its citizens under complete government control. Using the Islamic faith as a political tool, Iran is taking advantage of its people - such a way of life doesn’t sound like the definition of “freedom” as it is known in the United States. By continuing flawed policy such as the condemning of homosexuals and the limited rights of women, Iran cannot plausibly exude characteristics of a free nation.

            With such defective domestic policy, it is hard to imagine Iran being a threat in a global arena. Nevertheless, anti-U.S. sentiment combined with growing military strength has made it clear that Iran is demanding a voice. It has been uncertain over the years whether or not Iran has financially supported terrorism - certainly the country is not willing to admit such a claim. However, with the unique makeup of the government along with clear opposing views on issues like Israel’s right to exist, Iranian and American leaders are being forced to communicate; by achieving such a right, Iran has proven its growing political status. The threat the country poses to the West is visible through its interest in developing nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the inability of the U.S. to reach negotiations with Iran has propelled this struggle and has allowed Iran to rule with fear both domestically and abroad.


WORKS CITED

1. “The Shia Revival: Class Notes” Borzutzky, Silvia: Comparative Politics.

2. "BBC NEWS". British Broadcasting Corporation. April 30, 2009
           <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6213248.stm>.

3. Nasr, Vali. The Shia Revival. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006.