Ayatollah Sayyid Abdul Hossein Dastgheib was born in Shiraz in 1913. His father, Sayyid Mohammad Taqi, the son of Mirza Hedayatullah, was a prominent Marja and religious authority in Fars province. Ayatollah Dastgheib was chosen as the prayer leader by the people of the Bazar-e Morgh neighborhood in Shiraz (currently known as Ahmadi neighborhood). He was only around 18 at the time.
During the implementation of Reza Shah’s decree, which forcefully forbade women from wearing the Hijab and the scholars their clerical attire, Ayatollah Dastgheib, along with other scholars, severely opposed such actions of the regime. His opposition was so strong that the Pahlavi regime prevented him from delivering public speeches. Nonetheless, he used to sit on the ground and speak to the people. He paid no attention to the threats posed by the regime, until it finally threatened him, ordering him to remove his clerical attire within twenty-four hours. Ayatollah Dastgheib then left for Najaf.
In Najaf, he benefitted from the lessons of scholars such as the late Ayatollah Hajj Shaykh Kazem Shirazi and Ayatollah Hajj Mirza Ali Aqa Qazi Tabatabaie. At the age of 24, he successfully gained the permission of figures such as Ayatollah Zia Iraqi, Shaykh Kazem Shirazi, and Ayatollah Sayyid Abdul Hossein Isfahani to partake in Ijtihad. Ayatollah Dastgheib gained the permission of eight scholars for Ijtihad. When Ayatollah Shaykh Mohammad Kazem Shirazi approved him as a Mujtahid, he said, “He is free from any immoral character and possesses various noble moral traits.”
Ayatollah Dastgheib was known for his devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt, as well as his piety, patience, good character, eloquence in speech and writing abilities. After living in Najaf, he returned to Shiraz. In addition to reviving the Atiq Jami Masjid, he reconstructed and revitalized schools such as Qavam, Hashemiye, Aastaneh, Hakim, as well as the al-Raza, al-Mahdi, Aal Rasul, Imam Hossein and Ruhullah masjids. Moreover, through his efforts, thousands of square meters of land were allocated for building affordable housing for the under privileged population, including the Ali ibn Abi Talib Complex, Shahid Dastgheib Neighborhood, and Khatam al-Anbiya Complex.
He had expertise in Arabic grammar, syntax, logic, jurisprudence, and the principles of jurisprudence. He authored numerous books, some of which are, Salat al-Khasheien (Prayer of the Pious), Qalb-e Quran (Heart of the Quran), Sayyid al-Shuhada (Master of Martyrs), 82 Porsesh (82 Questions), Maad (Resurrection Day), Mi’raaj (Ascension) , Tafsir Surah al-Hujurat (Exegesis of Chapter al-Hujurat), Dastanhai-e Shegeft (Amazing Stories), Behesht-e Javedan (Everlasting Paradise), Gonahaan e Kabireh (Greater Sins), Tawhid (Monotheism), Iman (Faith), Maarifi az Quran (Introduction to the Quran), Nabuwwat (Prophethood), Ista’azah (Seeking Refuge With Allah), Qiyamat wa Quran (Resurrection and the Quran), Zindagani e Zaynab Kubra (Life of Lady Zainab), Qalb-e Salim (Pure Heart), and many others.
His Struggles During the 1960s and 70s
Ayatollah Dastgheib’s activities during the 1960s and 70s can be summarized as follows:
In 1962, he, together with other scholars in Shiraz, objected to the Provincial and State Associations Act, which stipulated that the voters and candidates were no longer required to be Muslims, while the words “Divine Book” would be used instead of the Quran for taking the oath. In response to this decision, scholars of Qum sent telegrams expressing their objections, including Imam Khomeini, who believed that this act aimed to gradually eliminate the foundations of Islam. The opposition of the scholars ultimately led to the cancellation of the proposal. In a speech delivered in 1963, he stated: “We do not have Eid Nowruz this year, because, on the one hand, it coincides with the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Sadiq. While, on the other hand, because of the troubles, poverty and misery that the people are being subjected to.”
He paid special attention to the economic situation of the people of Fars and always tried to live like other people; even in the years after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. For example instead of taking a car, he used to walk to the masjid, thus allowing for conversations with the people.
When Ayatollah Dastgheib heard about the attack on the Fayziyyah Seminary School in Qum, he stated, “This incident in Qum deeply affects all Muslims. You have witnessed how these seminary students, who have come from other cities to seek knowledge, were assaulted and beaten. They were detained and killed. I am certain that the hearts of all Muslims are filled with sorrow and grief because of this.” This speech made his activities a major concern for SAVAK. Nevertheless, he continued his speeches, despite the increased surveillance carried out on him by SAVAK. Even with the threat of arrest by SAVAK, he continued giving speeches about the corruption of the regime. Furthermore, in the Jami Masjid of Shiraz, he was preparing the people for the start of the struggle against the Pahlavi regime.
Following the arrest of Imam Khomeini on June 3, 1963, and the subsequent demonstrations of people on the following day, which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of many people in Tehran, Varamin, and Qum, people in other cities also organized extensive demonstrations in support of Imam Khomeini. In Shiraz, at the request of Ayatollah Dastgheib, the markets were closed and the people went on strike. This prompted SAVAK to arrest him.
Ayatollah Dastgheib and Ayatollah Shaykh Bahauddin Mahallati were among the first individuals to be arrested after the June 4th demonstrations. They were imprisoned in Eshrat-Abad Barrack in Tehran. Ayatollah Dastgheib spent 14 days in this prison, thereafter he was transferred to Qezel Qaleh Prison. He remained in detention for another 45 days. He was finally released on July 25, 1963. After his release, he first went to Mashhad and then returned to Shiraz on November 22 of the same year, where he was warmly welcomed by the people.
A few months later, Ayatollah Dastgheib was arrested again on charges of distributing leaflets and insulting the monarchy. He was taken to Tehran and imprisoned again in Qezel Qaleh Prison, but the charges against him were dropped. He was released in early 1964. After his release, he stayed two weeks in Mashhad and then left for Qum to meet with Imam Khomeini. He stayed three days in Qum. Because of his continuous struggles and revealing speeches, SAVAK banned him from delivering speeches in 1973.
Struggles on the Eve of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Dastgheib played a significant role in mobilizing the people of Fars in their fight against the Pahlavi regime. Simultaneously, and following the 2,500-year Celebration of the Persian Empire, the Pahlavi regime, believing to have complete control over the country, attempted to promote a non-religious and Western culture by organizing the annual Art Festival in Shiraz. As a result, various foreign groups flocked to Shiraz for this festival. In response, Ayatollah Dastgheib, like many other scholars and laity, raised objections to these celebrations, expressing his strong opposition through various speeches. Criticizing the holding of the Art Festival during a speech in the Jami Masjid, he said, “May God curse the organizers of this festival... How long are you going to continue such misleading activities that corrupt this nation and its youth?”
This speech by Ayatollah Dastgheib in protesting the Art Festival, led to his arrest and detention.
In December 1977, Ayatollah Dastgheib strongly condemned a derogatory article against Imam Khomeini that had been published in the Ettela’at newspaper. During the imposed martial law and after the bloody events of September 8, 1978, agents of the regime went to his house in the middle of the night and arrested him while he was sick. However, he was released after several months of imprisonment and exile.
Ayatollah Dastgheib actively participated in all the demonstrations held against the Pahlavi regime in Shiraz. He would walk ahead of the protesters, wearing a green cloth around his waist and holding a cane. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he represented the people of Fars in the Assembly of Experts and was appointed as the Friday Prayer Imam of this city by Imam Khomeini in response to the request of the people of Shiraz, who did so by signing an 80-meter-long petition. He deeply respected Imam Khomeini. One of his famous statements was, “Without loving Khomeini, you cannot love Imam Mahdi (as).” He took great pride in following Imam Khomeini. During Imam Khomeini’s exile in Najaf, he visited him multiple times. He also traveled to different cities, such as Fasa, Marvdasht, Kuvar, Darab, Firoozabad, Estehbanat, Neyriz, Sarvestan, Eqlid and Abadeh with the aim of awakening the people. Such activities led to significant changes within society.
Activities during the Iran-Iraq War
When the Iran-Iraq War, also known as the Sacred Defense, erupted, Ayatollah Dastgheib encouraged the youth to join the frontlines. He made great efforts in providing logistical support for the combatants and referred to the Iranian fighters as the “Ansaar Allah (Helpers of Allah)”.
He likened the battlefronts to that of the early days of Islam, and considered the Sacred Defense as a means of manifesting humanity, patience, endurance and courage.
In his Friday prayer sermons delivered on December 4, 1981, he said, “Every man and woman must defend their country, and I warn those who have left the frontlines and gone to safe places, not to abandon the war fronts... It is an obligation upon all people to stand against those who have declared war against us.”
On December 11, 1981, at 11:30 am, when he was on his way to the Jami Masjid of Shiraz to lead the Friday prayer, Ayatollah Dastgheib, along with several members of his office and a few civilians, were martyred by an explosion. The perpetrator of the assassination was a 19-year-old girl named Gohar Adab-Avaz, a member of the Mujahedeen-e Khalq Organization, who was also killed in the explosion. She approached Ayatollah Dastgheib under the pretext of delivering a letter, but on getting close to him, pulled the pin out of a hand grenade hidden in her hand, resulting in the explosion.
Ayatollah Dastgheib was one of the loyal companions of Imam Khomeini during the years of the struggle against the Pahlavi regime and had a significant influence on the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Fars and Shiraz.
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