The Iranian Constitutional Revolution and the Clerical Leadership of Khurasani

The Iranian Constitutional Revolution was the twentieth century s first such political movement in the Middle East. It represented a landmark in Iranian history because of the unlikely support it received from Shi ite clerics who historically viewed Western concepts with suspicion, some claiming constitutionalism to be anti-Islamic. Leading the support was Muhammad Kazim Khurasani, the

renowned Shi ite jurist who conceived of a supporting role for the clergy in a modern Iranian political system.

Drawing on extensive analysis of religious texts, fatwas, and articles written by Khurasani an other pro- and anti-constitutionalists, Farzaneh provides a comprehensive and illuminating interpretation of Khurasani s religious pragmatism. 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 Shi ite 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.

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