Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Unique Movement (10)

The reason for the Islamic Revolution’s popularity among the world people is its compliance with human nature and logical and progressive nature of the revolution’s teachings which have stemmed from Islam. Much to the chagrin of the world powers and their mercenaries, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has found its way among the oppressed and downtrodden people in the world.

With regard to the scale of success in gaining objectives and creating changes, revolutions are effective on the internal situation as well as regional and international interactions. The French revolution in 1789 and that of Russia in 1917 are considered great revolutions. Without doubt, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has been one of the most effective and influential revolutions at internal, regional and international levels. After 38 years, this effect and influence can be clearly seen inside the country and abroad.    

The Islamic Revolution had spectacular impacts inside the country. It overthrew the despotic monarchic regime and granted freedom to people. Freedom is manifested in speeches, gatherings, media and elections. People can freely take part in administering the country’s affairs by directly or indirectly choosing the top officials, namely leader, president, parliamentarians, members of the Assembly of Experts and so on.

Independence is the other gift granted by the Islamic Revolution. The founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini (God’s mercy upon him), from the beginning of campaign against the puppet Pahlavi regime, stressed that the goal is not only to overthrow the anti-popular regime, but its supporters especially the US should leave Iran. Thus with the overthrow of the Shah regime, the US, Britain, the Zionist regime and other marauders of Iran’s resources were forced to leave Iran; hence they have been plotting against the Islamic Republic of Iran ever since.

But the great gift of the Islamic Revolution for the people of Iran and the world is to found a system based on Islamic teachings. Imam Khomeini stressed that Islam not only includes worships and ethical teachings but the major part of the Islamic teachings is on the way of administering the country. The Imam reiterated: “Prayer, supplication and pilgrimage is just part of Islam. But Islam has politics and administration of the country. Islam is the religion of politics before being the religion of spiritualties.”

 Thus with the votes of Iranian people, the Islamic Republic system was founded on the basis of religion and spirituality in contrast to western liberal democracy which is based on the rule of capital and hedonistic desires of the individual. As the Islamic Republic grew from strength to strength, it has seriously challenged the flawed and decadent liberal democracy system.

Although the Islamic Revolution is depicted by the ill-wishers as an Iranian Revolution, the people of other countries have been highly affected by this greatest contemporary phenomenon. Awareness and alertness of people is the pre-requisite for any movement and for this reason, Imam Khomeini (God’s mercy upon him) attempted for years to make the Iranian people aware of the corrupt and suppressive nature of Pahlavi regime and its backers abroad. This awakening very soon impacted the people especially in the Islamic world and made nations aware of corruption of despotic rulers and their foreign supporters.

The difference between anti-oppression and freedom-seeking in Iran’s revolution with the other uprisings is that in this revolution, campaign against oppressors stemmed from Islamic principles and completely relied on people. During the victory of the Islamic Revolution, some confined campaign against colonialism to struggle against western capitalism and some others considered it opposition to the former Soviet Union. But the Islamic Revolution deemed struggle against the Arrogance, which is the translation of the Qur’anic word “Estekbar”, as fighting any bullying or hegemonic power. This is currently embodied in the regime of the United States though earlier it included the eastern bloc, too.   

Spirituality can be regarded as the main distinction of the Islamic Revolution with other revolutions. The Iranian nation’s uprising was for God and it was shaped on the basis of progressive teachings of Islam. Imam Khomeini was a religious and pious scholar who considered obedience of divine commands as a guarantee for the success of the revolution and prosperity in this world and the hereafter. The spirituality of the Islamic Revolution in the era when materialism and secularism is propagated is attractive for nations. Therefore, the Islamic Revolution has supporters not only among Muslims but also among non-Islamic states. These people are discontent with the west’s ceaseless efforts to eliminate religion and turn to carnal desires and are seeking the reliance on God in order to gain spiritual tranquility in His refuge. Hence, since the Islamic Revolution is the pioneer of return to religion and spirituality, it has influenced Muslims and non-Muslims.

Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, this phenomenon began impacting other nations on a daily basis. Ideals of the revolution such as spirituality, anti-oppression campaign, justice-seeking, freedom-seeking and governance on the basis of Islam were noticed by many people. So many liberating movements, in continuation of their campaign against dictatorship and colonialism, adopted the ideals and methods of the Islamic Revolution. In the past 38 years, the western regimes and media left no stone unturned to accuse Iran of exporting its revolution through political and military ways; while the Islamic Revolution has ushered in a new thought and cannot be forced to be accepted by others. What caused the popularity of the revolution’s values in the region and the world is their compliance with human nature. The bullying powers and the regimes affiliated to them have to accept that the nations have awakened and are going to topple decadent and corrupt powers through adopting the Islamic Revolution’s model.

With a glance at the Islamic countries, especially in west Asia we realize the spectacular impacts of the Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s firm defense of the Palestinian people and opposition to the Zionist regime’s occupation has encouraged Palestinians to intensify their resistance against the illegitimate regime in Tel Aviv. This comes as the Zionists and their western backers were happy with fooling the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) into compromise. Organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad have been inspired by the Islamic Revolution and with the ideal of struggle against the occupiers have turned into a nightmare for the Zionist regime. Meanwhile, the fake Zionist regime’s army which had occupied South Lebanon since 1982 faced with a legendary movement called Hezbollah of Lebanon. The youths, inspired by the Islamic teachings and the role model set by Iran’s Islamic Revolution, rush to jihad, consider martyrdom a great honor and even the Leader of the Islamic Revolution as their leader. The Hezbollah combatants are highly dedicated to the lofty ideals of the Islamic Revolution and hence have defeated the Zionist forces several times and the regime considers Hezbollah as its top enemy.

With the beginning of uprisings among Arab nations in December 2010, many believed that the people of those countries have been impressed by the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Opposition to dictatorship, freedom-seeking and justice-seeking were among the common slogans of the uprisings which were stressed in Iran’s Islamic Revolution. Although some uprisings in Arab countries faced hurdles and even were hijacked, they are going to bear fruit in other countries. In Bahrain, people incessantly demonstrate against the despotic minority regime of Al Khalifa. Despite the continued suppression of the people’s uprising and indolence of the so-called international bodies and the claimants of defense of human rights in the west, people still call for democracy and their inalienable rights. Although, the westerners have adopted the media blackout with respect to the uprising of Bahraini people, they continue their struggle against Al Khalifa regime.

Yemen is another Arab country whose people, inspired by the Iranian people, have risen up for freedom, democracy and independence. But this uprising is cruelly quelled by the army of one of the most barbaric and inhumane regimes, that is Saudi regime in Arabia. Yemeni people’s taking the Iranian model of resistance and struggle against the US and the Zionist regime caused the west to close its eyes to the brutal killing of Yemenis and even help the Saudi army in suppressing them. In Iraq, too, the Muslim combatants, impacted by the Islamic Revolution, campaigned against the regime of Saddam. After the US occupation of Iraq, opposition to the US began until the American soldiers shamefully withdrew from Iraq. Now the Muslim people of Iraq continue struggling against Daesh terrorist group.

Certainly the influence of the Islamic Revolution is not restricted to these countries and even Muslims. Non-Muslim nations have also been directly or indirectly affected by the Islamic Revolution. Among Muslim nations one can refer to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the southern Persian Gulf states such as Arabia. In non-Muslim countries, free-spirited people praise the lofty ideals of the Islamic Revolution. However, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has its roots in the progressive and constructive teachings of Islam; hence its further spread among the world nations is natural and expected.

FK/RM/ME