Hassan Modarres
Encyclopedia
Seyyed Hassan Modarres (c. 1870 - December 1, 1937), was an Iran
ian Twelver Shi'a cleric and a notable supporter of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution
. He was among the founding members, along with Abdolhossein Teymourtash, of the reformist party Hezb-e Eslaah-talab of the time, which was formed during the fourth national Majlis of Iran
. He has been called "brave and incorruptible" and "perhaps the most fervent mullah supporter of true constitutional government."
, while others mention that he was born in a village named Sarābe-Kachou (سرابهکچو) near Ardestan
, and that he moved to Shahreza when he was six. Having studied Islam
ic sciences in Isfahan
and Najaf
, Modarres turned to become a religious teacher in an Esfahan's madrasa. The name Modarres, that means "teacher", is because of his job there. In 1910, he was chosen by Najaf's cleric community and sent to Tehran
to supervise the laws passed by the Majlis of Iran
, to make sure they are not against the rules of sharia
. Later, in 1914, he was elected as a Majlis representative of Tehran
.
In 1916, during the World War I
, he migrated to Iraq
, Syria
, and Turkey
together with a handful of other politicians, and served as the Minister of Justice in a cabinet formed in exile by Nezam os-Saltaneh. After returning to Iran, he was elected in the Majlis elections a few more times. Modarres fought against the presence of British
forces in Persia, vigorously opposing the proposed 1919 agreement that would have transformed Iran into a British protectorate.
In the early 1920s he also played a role in preventing Reza Khan (the prime minister at the time) from abolishing the monarchy (the Qajar Dynasty
) and declaring a republic, and less successfully opposed Reza Khan's deposing of the Qajar dynasty
in 1925. Sayyed Modaress was openly critical of Reza Shah's rule and was placed under imprisonment in retaliation for his criticisms. A few years after a November 1926 assassination attempt against him Modarres was expelled to Khaf
and later to Kashmar
. He was finally killed in a prison in 1937. His death is regarded as martyrdom and the martyrdom day (10th of Azar
) is known in Iran as Majlis day (day of the parliament).
Ruhollah Khomeini
, who later became the Supreme Leader of Iran
after the Iranian Revolution
, was among Modarres's students.
Modarres is depicted on the obverse
of the Iranian 100 rials
banknote.
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...
ian Twelver Shi'a cleric and a notable supporter of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution
Iranian Constitutional Revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution or Iranian Constitutional Revolution took place between 1905 and 1907...
. He was among the founding members, along with Abdolhossein Teymourtash, of the reformist party Hezb-e Eslaah-talab of the time, which was formed during the fourth national Majlis of Iran
Majlis of Iran
The National Consultative Assembly of Iran , also called The Iranian Parliament or People's House, is the national legislative body of Iran...
. He has been called "brave and incorruptible" and "perhaps the most fervent mullah supporter of true constitutional government."
Biography
The sources disagree on his birthplace. Some mention that he was born in ShahrezaShahreza
Shahreza , also Romanized as Qomīsheh, Qumisheh, and Qowmsheh) is a city in and the capital of Shahreza County, Isfahan Province, Iran...
, while others mention that he was born in a village named Sarābe-Kachou (سرابهکچو) near Ardestan
Ardestan
Ardestan is a city in and the capital of Ardestan County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 14,698, in 4,077 families....
, and that he moved to Shahreza when he was six. Having studied Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic sciences in Isfahan
Isfahan (city)
Isfahan , historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609, Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad...
and Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
, Modarres turned to become a religious teacher in an Esfahan's madrasa. The name Modarres, that means "teacher", is because of his job there. In 1910, he was chosen by Najaf's cleric community and sent to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
to supervise the laws passed by the Majlis of Iran
Majlis of Iran
The National Consultative Assembly of Iran , also called The Iranian Parliament or People's House, is the national legislative body of Iran...
, to make sure they are not against the rules of sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
. Later, in 1914, he was elected as a Majlis representative of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
.
In 1916, during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he migrated to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
together with a handful of other politicians, and served as the Minister of Justice in a cabinet formed in exile by Nezam os-Saltaneh. After returning to Iran, he was elected in the Majlis elections a few more times. Modarres fought against the presence of British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
forces in Persia, vigorously opposing the proposed 1919 agreement that would have transformed Iran into a British protectorate.
In the early 1920s he also played a role in preventing Reza Khan (the prime minister at the time) from abolishing the monarchy (the Qajar Dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
) and declaring a republic, and less successfully opposed Reza Khan's deposing of the Qajar dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
in 1925. Sayyed Modaress was openly critical of Reza Shah's rule and was placed under imprisonment in retaliation for his criticisms. A few years after a November 1926 assassination attempt against him Modarres was expelled to Khaf
Khaf
Khaf may refer to:* Khaf County, Iran* Khaf, Iran, the capital of Khaf County* Kaph * Half Moon Bay Airport, whose ICAO code is KHAF...
and later to Kashmar
Kashmar
Kashmar is a city in and the capital of Kashmar County, in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran. Kashmar is located near the river Sish Taraz in the western part of the province, and south of the province's capital Mashhad, in Iran, from east to Bardaskan, west to Torbat-e Heydarieh, north to...
. He was finally killed in a prison in 1937. His death is regarded as martyrdom and the martyrdom day (10th of Azar
Azar
Azar is the 9th month of the Iranian civil calendar of 1925. Azar has 30 days and begins on November and ends on December. Azar is the 3rd month of Autumn....
) is known in Iran as Majlis day (day of the parliament).
Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
, who later became the Supreme Leader of Iran
Supreme Leader of Iran
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The post was established by the constitution in accordance with the concept of Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists...
after the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, was among Modarres's students.
Modarres is depicted on the obverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
of the Iranian 100 rials
Iranian rial
The rial is the currency of Iran. It is subdivided into 100 dinar but, because of the very low current value of the rial, no fraction of the rial is used in accounting....
banknote.
Sources
- The Persian EncyclopediaThe Persian EncyclopediaThe Persian Encyclopedia is one of the most comprehensive and authoritative Encyclopedias written in the Persian language. It is a two-volume encyclopedia published as three physical volumes....
's entry on Modarres. - Mohammad Taghi BaharMohammad Taghi BaharMohammad-Taqí Bahār , widely known as Malek o-Sho'arā and Malek o-Sho'arā Bahār , is a renowned Iranian poet and scholar, who was also a politician, journalist, historian and Professor of Literature...
, Taarikh-e Mokhtasar-e Ahzaab-e Siaasi-e Iraan (A Short History of Political Parties of Iran), AmirkabirAmirkabir (publisher)Amirkabir is a publisher based in Tehran, Iran, founded on November 19, 1949 by Abdorrahim "Taghi" Jafari. It is named after Mirza Taghi Khan Amirkabir, the famous Iranian consul....
, 1978. - Yadegari, Amir Hossein (November 2005). "Siāsatmadār-e Dindār", Hamshahri-e Māh, Ābān 1384 A.P.Iranian calendarThe Iranian calendars or sometimes called Persian calendars are a succession of calendars invented or used for over two millennia in Greater Iran...
, page 4. - Abrahamian, Ervand, Iran Between Two Revolutions, Princeton University Press, 1982
- Mottahedeh, Roy, The Mantle of the Prophet : Religion and Politics in Iran, One World, Oxford, 1985, 2000
External links
- Seyyed Hassan Modaress at www.qajarpages.org
- http://www.irib.ir/Special/Azar/Modaress/html/en/modares.htm
- http://www.irib.ir/Ouriran/mashahir/siasi/modarres/html/en/page.htm
- Modarres Dar Ā'in-e Che'hel Sāl Mobārezeh (Modarres in the Tradition of Forty Years Struggle), Khāne-ye Mellat (Nation's Home)