Haghani Circle
Encyclopedia
Haghani school
is a Shi'i school of thought in Iran
by a group of hardliner right-wing clerics based in the holy city of Qom
and headed by Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
, an influential theologian. The Haghani Circle has its origin in the Haghani seminary, founded in 1964, which previously had been called Muntashiriya. After two of the leading members of the circle were assassinated (Ayatollahs Qodousi and Beheshti), the hawza
changed its name to Shahidayn Seminary (Martyr Seminary).
, Ayatollah Beheshti, Ayatollah Sadoughi, and Ayatollah Taleghani. It was originally conceived in a reform effort to strengthen the weight of philosophy in the hawza
curriculum. To this effect, Allameh Tabatabai was commissioned to write two introductory works, which he completed in 1970 (Bidayat al-Hikmah) and 1975 (Nikhayat al-Hikmah). Today, the school trains clerics with both a traditional and modern curriculum, including a secular education in science, medicine, politics, and Western
/non-Islamic philosophy.
The Haghani Seminary has been described as "a kind of Ecole Nationale d'Administration for the Islamic Republic" whose alumni "form the backbone of the clerical management class that runs Iran's key political and security institutions." During Iran's elections it is said to be common for candidates to visit the city to "pay homage" to Haghani religious leaders and "receive their blessing." Another source says "most Haghani people serve either in the security forces or in the military."
According to journalist Tim Rutten
"the Haghani is a particularly aggressive school of radical Shiite Islam which lives in expectation of the imminent coming of the Mahdi
, a kind of Islamic messiah, who will bring peace and justice -- along with universal Islamic rule -- to the entire world. ... Members ... of this school believe they must act to speed the Mahdi's coming.".
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
(The founder of Haghani School, is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ideological mentor and spiritual guide)
is a Shi'i school of thought in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
by a group of hardliner right-wing clerics based in the holy city of Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
and headed by Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi is a hardline Iranian Twelver Shi'i cleric and politician who is widely seen as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor. He is also a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for choosing the Supreme Leader, where he heads...
, an influential theologian. The Haghani Circle has its origin in the Haghani seminary, founded in 1964, which previously had been called Muntashiriya. After two of the leading members of the circle were assassinated (Ayatollahs Qodousi and Beheshti), the hawza
Hawza
Hawza or ḥawza ʻilmiyya is a seminary of traditional Islamic school of higher learning. It is a term used mostly by the Shi'a Muslims communities to refer to a traditional Shi'a centre where clerics are trained...
changed its name to Shahidayn Seminary (Martyr Seminary).
History
The Haghani Seminary was founded by Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Ayatollah Ahmad JannatiAhmad Jannati
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Massah is a hardline Iranian politician, fundamentalist Shi'i cleric and a founding member of Haghani school with close ties with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Mesbah-Yazdi...
, Ayatollah Beheshti, Ayatollah Sadoughi, and Ayatollah Taleghani. It was originally conceived in a reform effort to strengthen the weight of philosophy in the hawza
Hawza
Hawza or ḥawza ʻilmiyya is a seminary of traditional Islamic school of higher learning. It is a term used mostly by the Shi'a Muslims communities to refer to a traditional Shi'a centre where clerics are trained...
curriculum. To this effect, Allameh Tabatabai was commissioned to write two introductory works, which he completed in 1970 (Bidayat al-Hikmah) and 1975 (Nikhayat al-Hikmah). Today, the school trains clerics with both a traditional and modern curriculum, including a secular education in science, medicine, politics, and Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
/non-Islamic philosophy.
The Haghani Seminary has been described as "a kind of Ecole Nationale d'Administration for the Islamic Republic" whose alumni "form the backbone of the clerical management class that runs Iran's key political and security institutions." During Iran's elections it is said to be common for candidates to visit the city to "pay homage" to Haghani religious leaders and "receive their blessing." Another source says "most Haghani people serve either in the security forces or in the military."
According to journalist Tim Rutten
Tim Rutten
Tim Rutten is an American journalist who worked for the Los Angeles Times between 1971 and 2011.He started at the paper as a copy editor in the View section. Before becoming a columnist for the Calendar section in 2002, he held a number of positions, including city bureau chief and editorial writer...
"the Haghani is a particularly aggressive school of radical Shiite Islam which lives in expectation of the imminent coming of the Mahdi
Mahdi
In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on Earth for seven, nine or nineteen years- before the Day of Judgment and, alongside Jesus, will rid the world of wrongdoing, injustice and tyranny.In Shia Islam, the belief in the Mahdi is a "central religious...
, a kind of Islamic messiah, who will bring peace and justice -- along with universal Islamic rule -- to the entire world. ... Members ... of this school believe they must act to speed the Mahdi's coming.".
Members
Many famous theologians and influential figures in Iran's politics after the revolution were associated (as teacher or student) with the Haghani Circle or follows its ideology:- Ayatollah Dr. Ahmad Ahmadi
- General Allah Karam
- Hujjat al-Islam Alizadeh
- Ayatollah Javadi Amoli
- Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti
- Mostafa Ebrahimifar
- Gholam Hossein Mohseni-EjeheiGholam Hossein Mohseni-EjeheiHojjatol-Islam Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i was the head of the Ministry of Intelligence in Iran from 2005 to July 2009, when he was abruptly dismissed. On August 24, 2009 he was appointed prosecutor general of the country by new judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani. He has also held a number...
(The Ministry of Intelligence and National Security) - Mohsen Mohammadi Eraqi
- Hujjat al-Islam Eslami
- Hujjat al-Islam Ezzat-Panah
- Hujjat al-Islam Faker
- Hujjat al-Islam Fallah
- Ali FallahianAli FallahianHojatoleslam Ali Fallahian, is an Iranian politician and cleric. He has served as a member of the 3rd Assembly of Experts of the IRI and as the Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran in cabinet of President Hashemi Rafsanjani...
(The former Ministry of Intelligence and National Security and the former Prosecutor-General of Special Court for the Clergy) - Rouhollah Hosseinian
- Ahmad JannatiAhmad JannatiAyatollah Ahmad Jannati Massah is a hardline Iranian politician, fundamentalist Shi'i cleric and a founding member of Haghani school with close ties with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Mesbah-Yazdi...
- Gholamhossein KarbaschiGholamhossein KarbaschiGholamhossein Karbaschi is an Iranian politician who was the Mayor of Tehran from 1989 until 1998. He is considered politically reformist and is a close ally of former president Mohammad Khatami...
(not actively involved since the mid 90's) - Ahmad KhatamiAhmad KhatamiAyatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khatami is a senior Iranian Ayatollah, as well as a senior member of the Assembly of Experts. In December of 2005, Ali Khamenei appointed him as Tehran’s substitute Friday prayer leader.He was born in the town of Nīr, Northern Iran...
- Ayatollah Sayyed Hasan Taheri Khorramabadi
- Hujjat al-Islam Meravi
- Hujjat al-Islam Mir-Sepah
- Hujjat al-Islam Moalla
- Hujjat al-Islam Mobasheri
- Hujjat al-Islam Mohammadi-Eraghi
- Gholam Reza Naghdi
- Abbas Salimi Namin
- Hujjat al-Islam Neeiazi
- Hujjat al-Islam Nezam-Zadeh
- Mostafa Pourmohammadi (The former Interior Minister)
- Hujjat al-Islam Rahbar
- Hujjat al-Islam Raieesi
- Hujjat al-Islam Ramandi
- Hujjat al-Islam Razini
- Mohammad ReyshahriMohammad ReyshahriMohammad Reyshahri , best known as Reyshahri, is an Iranian politician and cleric who was first Iranian Minister of Intelligence of Islamic Republic of Iran from 1984 to 1989 in cabinet of Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi.-Biography:Reyshahri was born in Rey.He married the daughter of Ayatollah...
(The former Ministry of Intelligence and National Security and former Prosecutor-General of Special Court for the Clergy - Hujjat al-Islam Sadeqi
- Hasan Shaianfar
- Hossein ShariatmadariHossein ShariatmadariHossein Shariatmadari is the managing editor of Kayhan, a conservative Iranian newspaper.Before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Shariatmadari was allegedly tortured by Iranian Shah's Police or SAVAK .Hossein Shariatmadari is the managing editor of Kayhan, a conservative Iranian newspaper.Before the...
- Ali YounesiAli YounesiHojatoleslam Ali Younesi was the director of the Ministry of Intelligence and a member of the Supreme National Security Council during the presidency Mohammad Khatami in Iran....
(The Former Ministry of Intelligence and National Security) - Sadeq Ziarati
- General Zolghadr
- Mojtaba Zonnour
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi is a hardline Iranian Twelver Shi'i cleric and politician who is widely seen as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor. He is also a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for choosing the Supreme Leader, where he heads...
(The founder of Haghani School, is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ideological mentor and spiritual guide)
See also
- HojjatiehHojjatiehHojjatieh — also called Hojjatieh Society — is a semi-clandestine traditionalist Shia organization founded in Iran in 1953 by Shaikh Mahmoud Halabi with permission of Ayatollah Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi...
- Chain Murders of IranChain murders of IranThe Chain Murders of Iran , or Serial Murders, were a series of murders and disappearances from 1988-1998 by Iranian government operatives of Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system in some way.The victims included more than 80 writers, translators,...
- History of fundamentalist Islam in IranHistory of fundamentalist Islam in IranThe history of fundamentalist Islam in Iran covers the history of Islamic revivalism and the rise of political Islam in modern Iran. Today, there are basically three types of Islam in Iran: traditionalism, modernism, and a variety of forms of revivalism usually brought together as fundamentalism...
- Council for Spreading Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ThoughtsCouncil for Spreading Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ThoughtsThe Council for Spreading President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Thoughts is an official high-council, established by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government in order to spread the philosophy, ideology and sociology of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.The aim of the council "to define and guard over the thought...
- Society of Seminary Teachers of QomSociety of Seminary Teachers of QomSociety of Seminary Teachers of Qom , was founded 1961 by the leading Shi'a clerics of Qom to organize religious teachings in the seminaries, and expand the religious teachings in Iran...