seyed mohamad hadi raji

One of the most important theories proposed in the context of Iranian social system is the theory of “religious democracy,” which was initially introduced by Imam Khomeini as the “Islamic Republic”, and the Iran’s political system was shaped after the Islamic Revolution based on this theory. Researches and various activities have been carried out with a focus on explaining the foundations of religious democracy, and on formulating it. Drawing upon the analytical-descriptive method, the aim of this research is to analytically examine religious democracy in terms of an interpretation presented by Ayatollah Khamenei. This interpretation (reading) is explained within the framework of his intellectual system through the two layers of worldview and ideology. Accordingly, the main question of the research is, “What is the role of religious democracy in formulating the principles of Islamic worldview and ideology from the perspective of Ayatollah Khameneī?’ The authors of this article hold the view that, in Ayatollah Khamenei’s intellectual system, religious democracy is explained for the realization of the goal of Islamic governance, and in his intellectual system, it has taken shape around the central theme of wilāyah, “guardianship”; a multi-faceted guardianship that will bring about the unity of people with each other, the unity of the Ummah (Islamic Community) with the Imam, and ultimately, the unity of the Muslim community,Ummah, with the Truth.

During the Qajar era, conscription entered the Iranian legal system, in imitate Europe in order to strengthen the defense and build a strong army. The operation of Religious scholars with conscription’s approval and implementation were different; most scholars including the Imam Jome Khuee and Martyr Moddares was Agree and also support the Approval of conscription’s law. But some scholars including Haj Aqa Noorollah Esfahani and Mirza Sadiq Tabrizi apparently disagree with Implementation of this law. These two different positions raise the question: what was the view of the Religious scholars towards this law and what jurisprudential reasons did they have. This article for responding this question investigate this issue with an analytical and descriptive method and concludes that Religious scholars didn’t have any religious disagreement with conscription but they also supported its approval and implementation. But the disagreement by some scholars that has been reported during the implementation of this system, was aimed at combating Reza Shah's anti-religious policies by cover of conscription and coordinate people against him. People's unfamiliarity with the new system, Reza Shah's mastering on the army and using it for anti-religious purposes, are the other reason of religious scholars' disagreement.