Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD student of history at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2 Associate Professor, Department of History, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Abstract
The relationship between religion and politics was affected by relatively unstable political conditions during reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1212-1250 A.H.). In early years of his rule, there was relative stability, and similar to previous centuries, religion played a traditional role in social developments. Beginning of prolonged wars with Russia and border tensions with Ottomans prompted ulama to revise religious teachings and principles according to the mentioned circumstances and accordingly arranged their relations with the government. The resumption of political stability after the war changed the link between religion and politics once again. The question is how was the relationship between religious leaders and the government considering stable conditions before and after and during it? At the beginning of Fath-Ali Shah’s reign and the first stage of stability, interaction between religion and politics followed a peaceful course and the ulama mostly acted as religious leaders, whereas after the threat posed to realm of religion after war, they adopted a converging policy with the government. After the return of stability, a divergent process followed, and reactions toward government were of critical, protest or indifferent type. Taking a descriptive-analytical method based on resources of this period, our research seeks to answer the above question. In addition to convergences and divergences, the most important outcome of relationship between religion and government during the reign of Fath-Ali Shah was that ulama laid t foundations of theocracy two centuries later by reinforcing the institution of power in the hands of a competent (jame ol-sharayet) faqih.
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