Dr Ali Shariati clarifies the Progressive nature of Shi’ism.

Dr Ali Shariati clarifies the Progressive nature of Shi’ism.

 By Jan Freidun Taravosh December 1st 2009

Introduction: 

I was introduced to the works of Dr. Ali Shariati by my father, who told me that I if wish to learn more about Islam, studying the works of Dr. Shariati will provide me with a greater understanding about the  subject than anything else.

  Dr. Ali Shariati was a noted progressive Muslim scholar in the days of the revolution, and his works are considered some of the most important, in shaping a revolutionary outlook in  Iran. the  following article I am presenting, focuses on my reflections concerning   his thesis “Where Shall We Begin”.  obviously, there must surely be many great works worth mentioning from this great thinker, yet as the above mentioned thesis was one of the first works of his I ever got to read myself - It’s natural for me to focus on this particular thesis in this article. 

 

“Where Shall We Begun gives  clear outline of the Progressive nature of Shi’ism and the true dynamics of Islamic thought. Generally speaking I guess most people can agree that  in truth the general concept of Islam  remains quite vague to most westerners - even within the progressive movement.

 Within the Progressive Movement people  seem to be quick in judging religion as the opium of the people, without  showing much  interest, for the concept of religion in the broader sense in general or for the concept of Islamic thought in particular.  

I think that people who sincerely study the teachings of Islamic thought in detail may happen to be surprised when the full scope of the Islamic thought is revealed. The true dynamics of Islamic thought, in general and Shi’ism as described by Dr Shariati in particular is very different   from the average stereotyped, and abstract definition of Islamic thought that is more common in the west.

 

In the aforementioned thesis, Dr. Shariati gives the reader a most dynamic view of the Shi’ist faith, and it’s social principles the thesis rightfully sheds more light, on the progressive nature of Shi’ism and identifies it as an important  driving force  which enables  the attaining of true human dignity. 

 Other than that the thesis also brings the uplifting sides of spirituality, to the fore, which  are naturally common knowledge in the Islamic Republic of Iran, yet are as good as never heard of in the west. 

The progressive dynamics of Shi’ism is appearing early on in this thesis, and I think it is clearly demonstrated in the following quote:

“All the relevant dimensions of the process.

of generating movement and awareness, 

have been adopted as the symbolic essence of Shi'ism.”  

One, thing that stays with the reader through out the thesis is the sense of clarity, and familiarity of Dr Shariati’s words. 

Dr Shariati and the Specific Characteristics of the Enlightened Muslim Culture

 After  presenting some basic characteristics of Sh’ism. Dr Shariati develops the readers understanding of the basic concept further  by also drawing up the specific characteristics of the enlightened Muslim culture:

“An enlightened Muslim, thus, should not be easily deceived. He should be fully aware 

of the fact that he has a unique culture which is neither totally spiritual, as is the 

Indian culture nor totally mystical, as is the Chinese, nor completely philosophical, as 

is the Greek, and nor entirely materialistic and technological, as is the Western 

culture His is a mixture of faith, idealism and spirituality and yet full of life and 

energy with a dominant spirit of equality and justice, the ideology that Islamic 

societies and other traditional societies of the East are in desperate need of. [...]”

 Thus in  the one and  same In the same thesis, Dr. Shariati also speaks with clarity of the social pathos that walks hand in hand with the Islamic thought:

“unlike other religions, which justify poverty, Islam condemns it”

Dr. Shariati, clarifies the dynamic concept of Islamic thought, in very few words really - and thus he  deals a definitive blow to the stereotyped view of the Muslim community as an “isolated” community, a community often portrayed as “turned away from the modern world”, and even  more importantly Dr Shariati  gets rid of any misconceptions of Islam as “an abstract school of thought - not concerned with the life of the modern human being”

  Most westerners associate Muslim fate with ignorance and/or backwardness but Dr Shariati explains in simple terms  that in fact it’s  quite the contrary.

 For Dr. Shariati   spirituality, in  Shi’ism leads not to separating the human being from the world she lives in but rather to further enlightenment, i.e. spirituality serves as a means of transport in  taking political awareness to a higher state:

 

“I, as a conscientious teacher who has risen 

from the depth of pains and experience of his people and history, hope that the 

enlightened person will reach a progressive self-awareness. For whereas our masses 

need self-awareness, our enlightened intellectuals are in need of "faith."

Spiritual Enlightenment as Dynamic Driving Force for Social Progress

Dr Shariati, clarifies that spirituality in it’s honest form is a dynamic driving force or  public motivation for social progress, and in his thesis he explains further: 

“No society will be mobilized and obtain 

its freedom merely because of the existence of class difference or tragic disparity 

between rich and poor. Poverty and class conflict may exist in a society for thousands 

of years without causing any structural transformation. Dialectic has no intrinsic 

motion. “

 Significant for Dr. Shariati is  the way he always speaks of spiritual enlightenment in direct correlation to the mature  human intellect, and likewise in correlation to social development. 

Thus Dr. Shariati reveals the progressive nature of Sh’ism. 

Shi’ism and the Quest for Knowledge and Human Development

 

For Dr Shariati, Islamic faith is always bound together with the noble quest for knowledge and furthering the cause of human development. 

Dr Shariati always encouraged the general public, and academics alike to embrace spiritual enlightenment, yet this does not contradict his consistent call for the masses to rid themselves from abstraction.  

 It serves the curious reader well to keep in mind  how Dr Shariati also criticised the negative sides of Religion with a reasoning quite  similar to that of Scientific Socialist Karl Marx.  In Where Shall We Begin, Dr. Shariati points out how (and I quote): 

“The intellectuals erroneously fought Islam and the reactionaries used it to 

“narcotize the masses and to maximize their own gains.” 

Yet before ending my article  I would just want to clarify, that his does not mean that Dr. Shariati contradicts his own reasoning presented in the above mentioned thesis.

 The  above  statement  only serves the reader as a means  to explain the Islamic attitude against the abuse of power, the same statement also explains  how Islam shuns corrupt behaviour and despotism.  i.e.  it is not to be confused with criticism of religion per se. The above statement does not contradict the endorsement of the positive effects that spiritual enlightenment can have  among the masses - mentioned earlier. 

Dr. Shariati also clarifies this misconception elsewhere in the above mentioned thesis, I think the above gives the reader the general idea.

A worthwhile read for anyone

I would like to end this article by saying I wholeheartedly recommend  reading “Where Shall We Begin” to   anyone interested learning more about the dynamics or social development - regardless if you are familiar with the concept of Islamic thought or not. 

On the whole the thesis is 23 pages long.   Contentwise the thesis never looses track of the main theme which is  give some insight of the role of spiritual enlightenment can play in society in general 

as well as further enhancing the readers understanding of the general idea of social development in society, as a whole. 

Because of the above stated, the thesis remains a worthwhile and most accessible read, to Muslims and non Muslims alike, and don’t you worry - you do not have to be an Iran expert to understand this thesis, I have Iranian roots, but I do not claim to be an expert.