 Mulla Mohammad Bagher Majlesi (1629-1699 AD) has been called the precursor to Khomeini and Iran’s current ruling clerics. [1] During the Safavid dynasty era (1501-1736 AD) Shiism was established as the religion of Iran to differentiate the country from Ottoman Turkey, giving tremendous power to the Shia clerics. [2] It was at this time that Majlesi began to exert unprecedented political influence. Majlesi’s books, in particular his Hilyat al-Muttaqin, became well-known in Iran for the first 10 years of the Islamic Republic (1979). Although Majlisi voices nothing more than his own opinion and the dominant cultural patriarchy of his time, he cleverly attributes his opinions to either the Imams or Prophet Mohammad. [2] Surprisingly very few have questioned his sources. His work contains bizarre propositions and his 17th century view on women and their role in society was misogynistic, many of which have been adopted by Shiite clergy up to this day. For example, he wrote that a trait required for a good wife is that she should be zalil (weak or passive)—a woman who can be dominated. She should also be sexually obedient and “listen to whatever her husband demands and whenever he asks for sex she must agree.” [3] Like many orthodox Muslims he opposed Sufi mystics and Schools of Philosophy, saying that seeking of knowledge is a “a waste of one’s life” and worse would “lead to apostasy and heresy.” Majlesi wrote numerous Shia religious text which have been enthusiastically revived and sanctioned by the current Iranian regime. [4] It’s unfortunate that many clerics and scholars continue to rely on such outdated religious materials. And like their patriarchal fathers remain skillful at taking advantage of people’s religious sentiments. [2] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sources:
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