Today’s Iran is in a state of Permanent Revolution.
Iran does not have any universal message for the world; it’s leadership is inspired by the 20th century socialist ideals against the medieval Shi’a and Sunni Islam.
THE GOOD
Acceptance of Quran
After 1400 years of dithering, the Shi’a under the guidance of today’s Vilayati Ulema have finally accepted Quran as the Word of God, without any caveats.
The Shi’a grievance, that Ali’s Imamat was removed from the Quran by the Sunnis, has no traction in the Shi’a-Sunni discourse today. This is a momentous development in Shi’a-Sunni relationship. Hurray!
Reconciliation of Democracy and Islam
The Iranian Shi’a were pulled into modernity screaming and screeching, caught by the actors of the Cold War. While the American Intelligence murdered its beloved Prime Minister and installed a wicked regime, the Soviet Union held it to ransom against the bruised US imperial machine since.
Against the imperialist hegemony and the communist push, Iranian Ulema choose French Revolutionary ideals to device a method of checks and balances in governance: democracy guided by the Shi’a Ulema (of Usooli School). Such a concept is likely to inspire many Sunni groups in the later 21st century. Thumps Up!!
Reliance on Science
Apart from Turkey, Iran is the only Muslim country that has devoted itself to self-sufficiency using scientific tools.
Though the change is driven by paranoia of Cold War actors, the respect for science will eventually seep into the consciousness of its citizens sooner or later. That can only be a good thing for human progress!
Unity of Shi’a Sects
Since the splintering of Shi’a sects in the 9-10th CE era, the Vilayati regime today has caught the imagination of common Shi’a. They have managed to bring various Shi’a groups into its orbit, stewarding them against the medieval, superstitious rituals and beliefs.
Many of these Shi’a groups had been Mutaraddids of the socialist 20th century (Middle-East); others were dazed by the impact of modernity as they came out of medieval times into the 21st century (Indian Subcontinent). Good to have some guidance, rather than drift.
THE BAD
Foreign Policy
By circumstances or by choice Iran is hooked on to Russia, or held to ransom by her.
Though its next door neighbour is Shi’a Azerbaijan, it empowers Orthodox Armenia. And it is not a principled policy. Azerbaijan is a former-communist but turkish-speaking state; though agnostic, it is none the less Shi’a (of Akhbari School). The small, weak Armenia is under the thumb of Russia and worried about its turkish neighbours.
Cynical Attitude Towards ‘Rule of Law’
Yes, the world is increasingly drifting away from the Rule of Law, as agreed by the United Nations. But that alone is not the reason to cynically undermine the world institutions; it invites nothing but that perpetual blame of practice of Taqiyyah.
If anything, today is the time to empower these world institutions for the preservation of our planet, from extremes of corporations, religion, and the mob.
THE INSANE
Paranoid about subjugation by Cold War actors and Sunni domination, Iran has decided to be self-sufficient and in a state of permanent revolution. That has resulted in permanent lack of peace.
Ghaybah
Despite reconciliation with science today, the Iranian Ulema hold on this 9-10th CE concept of Ghaybah, which was likely a medieval survival strategy for many Shi’a subsects.
Lay Sunnis and Ibadis snide the Shi’a concept of returning of the so-called 12th Imam. Such a bogus-superstitious belief, unproven by Quran and Sunnah, frustrates Sunni Ulema and drives away increasingly modern Iranians from the Vilayati regime.
Revolutionary Implosion
Despite the checks and balances, the Iranian regime remains a unique Usooli Shi’a political experiment. It has no system in place to appeal to Sunni populace of the world – 85% of Muslims are excluded by such a system:(
But the Vilayati Revolution continually targets Sunnis, as it marshals the other Shi’a subsects into its orbit. The Middle-East is on fire today, not just because of geo-politics but because the Vilayati Revolutionaries are eager participants in it.
