the Islamic Revolution in Iran has played a role in creating and reinforcing the dignity and self-confidence of Muslims, including Sunnis and Shi’ahs, regardless of their nationality or political affiliation. This Islamic revival has been manifested in various forms as well as thorough expressing views. The popular force originated from the Islamic awakening has transcended geographical boundaries, political ideologies and national systems, and at the same time, become a real concern for the conservative regimes that rule these countries. These Islamic movements, which nowadays are active in the Arab world, not only have strengthened the Islamic Revolution in Iran but also highlighted Iran’s position as a centre for Islamic awakening.
The Sphere of the Influence of the Islamic Revolution
Many scholars and researchers believe that the Islamic Revolution in Iran has been one of the most important and influential factors in advancing the process of awakening and awareness of Muslims and increasing the effective Islamic activities in Muslim societies. After the Islamic Revolution, Iran became the main centre of Islam. In fact, this Revolution which was based on religion contributed to reviving Islam in Iran and the world, one of the aspects of which is saving the contemporary Islamic political movements in the last two decades.
Now the question is what are the common indicators and areas which show that contemporary political movements, as well as the recent popular uprisings, are being influenced by the Islamic Revolution in Iran? The following studies are the main indicators.
Single idea: the Islamic Revolution in Iran, like any other Islamic movement, is based on the oneness of God (there is no god but God) and the mission of the Holy Prophet (“I bear witness that Muhammad is God’s Messenger and Prophet”), considers the Ka’bah as the source of spirituality and divine inspiration introduces the Qur’an as the book of God and the saviour of misguided humanity and believes in the world after death, peace, brotherhood and equality.
The Same Enemy: The Islamic Revolution and Islamic movements have a common enemy, that is to say, the global arrogance led by the United States and the Zionist regime.
Common Goal: The Islamic Revolution in Iran and contemporary Islamic movements call for the elimination of oppression and corruption, the implementation of Islamic law, the establishment of Islamic rule in the Muslim community, and the prevalence of the divine message all over the world by rejecting the powers and relying on divine eternal power as well as the masses of people. Contemporary Islamic movements owe their lives to the Islamic Revolution; because the Islamic Revolution gave new life to Islam and Muslims, saved them from isolation and humiliation, showed the inability of Marxism, Liberalism and Nationalism in governing the Muslims, and introduced Islam as the only solution for the political life of Muslims.
Seeking Unity: The emphasis of the Islamic Revolution and its leadership on the necessity of the unity of all classes and Islamic denominations for achieving victory in domestic and international arenas, is another context in which the tendency of contemporary Islamic political movements toward the Islamic Revolution is reflected; because following the example of the pure Islam brought by Prophet Muhammad (s), the Islamic Revolution does not differentiate between black and white, or the European and non-European Muslims.
Popularity: The popularity of the Islamic Revolution has been a factor in spreading the ideology of the Revolution and its acceptance by Muslim nations. The leadership of the 1979 Revolution believed that nations should be valued, not the governments. The salient feature of the Islamic Revolution i.e., its popularity, has found its way into Islamic political movements, and they have realized that Islam can mobilize the masses of the people. Accordingly, they tend to rely more on the people than the intellectuals and sought to expand their popularity.
By redefining a set of religious and Islamic values and teachings, the Islamic Revolution in Iran created a wave of religiosity and Islamism in the region, and its spiritual achievements and perceptual transformation are regarded as remarkable events in the world.
Creating the Collective Will and Non-Violence
Denying violence and the gradual and peaceful overthrow of the government were among the important approaches adopted by the Islamic Revolution on the basis of its soft power and followed by recent Arab movements. Up until then, this behaviour had been unique to the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The behaviour of the revolutions that occurred in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia and Bahrain clearly show a kind of collective rationality. In these revolutions, especially the Egyptian one, on the one hand, there was a constant street protest during which the streets and other public places turned into public parliaments and revealed people’s distrust of the existing institutions. On the other hand, and more importantly, the movement was peaceful and based on the conscious avoidance of using any violence or engaging in conflict in a manner that, in the face of the acts of violence committed by the state, the Arab youth have repeatedly stated that they pursue a peaceful policy. In addition, revolutionaries have verbally and practically shown that, in the unequal prevailing conditions, civil activity and the regulation of the erosive process are strategically effective.
The Network Structure and Power
The Islamic Revolution in Iran is known as the originator of the use of a multiplied and uncontrollable network of the people’s power. The entanglement and deep connection of the network of mosques, husayniyyahs, seminaries, religious ceremonies in which scholars and clerics deliver speeches, centres and charitable institutions, etc., connected a wide range of Iranian revolutionary forces away from the control and supervision of the Pahlavi government. In the process of creating a network of power in the Arab revolutions, political affairs and issues are not seen as being independent of and outside of social life, rather, they are regarded as a part of daily life which is influenced by the social networks. During the February 2011 revolution of Egypt, this role was played by advanced social-electronic communication networks. The initial invitation to hold a demonstration on January 25 (Day of Rage) was made by them, and most of the forces who came to the streets of Cairo and other cities were unknown but determined members of the same networks of popular power. This phenomenon, while expanding the communication and increasing the dynamism of the protesters, made the security forces confused and thus reduced costs.
Seeking Spirituality in the Arenas of Politics and Power
Although the recent revolutions that occurred in the Arab world may not be the same as the one that took place in Iran, they do not lack Islamic and spiritual aspects. This means that religious leaders in these revolutions, like the Islamic Revolution in Iran, are not at the forefront of the struggle, rather, the intellectuals and scholars move behind the people and follow the developments. However, there are ideals and symbols which indicate that Islamic movements have played a role in the formation of this movement and will play an important role in its subsequent developments as well. For example, in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, and especially in Bahrain, women with hijabs prominently participated in the protests, and the first phenomenon that occurs after the victory is holding the congregational prayers during the demonstrations in the streets.
National Solidarity and Unity
The emphasis of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and its leadership on the necessity of solidarity of all classes and Islamic denominations as well as other religions for achieving victory in the domestic and international arenas paves the way for the inclination of contemporary Islamic political movements toward the Islamic Revolution. Because the Islamic Revolution, based on pure Islam brought by Prophet Muhammad (s), does not make any difference between human beings and seeks to bring together all Islamic denominations and religions with the idea of establishing Dar al-Taqrib.
Transformation of the Nature of Power
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic movements in most Islamic and Arab countries, have gradually moved towards gaining power and thus they have been engaged in fighting with their government; take for example the spontaneous political uprisings that took place in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The future of the developments of the Middle East and North Africa, due to opposing the existing policies and the conservative American view of the region, will not be in line with the interests of the West. In this sense, it can be said that the most important element influencing these movements has been the ideas of the Islamic Revolution in Iran which were expressed through soft power and under the banner of Islamic ideology.
Division, fanatism, tyrannical rulers and puppets, dependent clerics and discouraged intellectuals will be among the main factors slowing down the process of Islamic awakening.
The table below explains this issue in another way.
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Domestic Obstacles |
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Obstacles |
Explanation |
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Providing the commentary on Islam and religious principles by employing personal opinion |
It means separating Islam from noble concepts such as martyrdom-seeking, anti-oppression, unity and formation of the Islamic Ummah.
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The authoritarian policy-makers and leaders of the Islamic countries |
This indicates the fundamental role of puppet rulers and tyrants who, with their dictated strategies, prevent the emergence of any Islamic awakening movement which defends the rights of Muslims.
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The lack of Islamic unity and the differences in religious sects |
Islam is indeed one single religion, but over time, some denominations and sects have branched from it. Today, some leaders of these sects try to show that these superficial differences are serious and fundamental. Such an action has become a great obstacle to Islamic awakening which seeks the realization of Islamic unity. |
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Fanatical thoughts |
In addition to setting the ground for the Islamic division, fanatism is a great factor in deceiving the Islamic Ummah. |
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Discouraged and depressed intellectuals |
By spreading their deviant thoughts, the discouraged and depressed intellectuals have always been the main cause of promoting a sense of depression and discouragement in Islamic societies. |
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Dependent clerics |
If this group, as the main leaders of the Muslims, goes astray, the whole society would have deviated. This issue is well evident in the statements of Imam Khomeini (ra).
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Reference: Pazhuheshnameh-ye Enqelab-e Eslami [A Quarterly Academic–Research Journal on Islamic Revolution]. Vol 3, No 11, Summer 2014, Pp 1-17.
Archive of The Thought of the Islamic Revolution
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