As discussed previously in this blog, religious nationalist states (and many other states) have three prominent groups in politics, the secularists, the religious nationalists and the deeply religious, who do not feel comfortable with how religious nationalists instrumentalize religion to achieve their political ends. While the focus is always on the tussle between the secularists (who are mostly not atheists or agnostics) and the religious nationalists, it is much more enlightening to probe the scrimmage between the religious nationalists and the deeply religious ones who do not agree with each other.
Marja' (Grand Ayatollah) Mousa Shubairi Zanjani is a 90-year-old marja-e-taqlid (meaning authority to be followed) or marja', the highest authority in Twelver Shiite religious tradition. This highest rank is the attained after decades of scholarship and only a few ayatollahs reach this rank. By the strict standards of the tradition, even Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei does not qualify to be one, although he is accepted by many as a marja'. Every Shia is bound to follow one of the living marja'.
The recent controversy, which pitted religious nationalists against a marja', started in early October 2018 when former president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) and some other members of the reformist camp met Marja' Mousa Shubairi Zanjani. Khatami has been rejected by the official conservative circles since the end of his presidency but hardliners, close to Rahbar (Supreme Leader) Ali Khamenei, became especially angry after he supported Mir-Hossein Mousavi candidacy and mass protests after the controversial 2009 elections. He has since been banned from official media and is not allowed to leave the country.
Ayatollah Yazdi(L) and Marja' Zanjani (R)
Source: Radio Farda
The meeting drew a severe rebuke from a hardline conservative Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, who is close to Khamenei. Khamenei has repeatedly appointed him as one of the members of the influential Guardian Council and also helped him get elected as the current Chairman of the Assembly of Experts. Previously, Khamenei appointed him the head of judiciary for 10 years (1989-99). Ayatollah Yazdi not only wrote a stinging letter to Marja' Zanjani but also released it to the public. He wrote:
Following the publication of pictures on social media of you alongside some problematic individuals who have no respect for the system of the Islamic Republic and the supreme leader, I hereby state that this issue has caused concern and upset among followers and in the seminaries...I would like to remind you that your status and respect are tied to your respect for the ruling Islamic system, the leadership and the status of marjas... and take steps to ensure such matters are not repeated again.
This was unprecedented in many ways. Ayatollahs usually do not indulge in public spats and nobody criticizes marja's, especially not the lower-ranked ayatollahs. Marja' are the highest authority in the Shiite hierarchical system after are meant to be followed reverently and blindly, not questioned.
The response of Marja' Zanjani was befitting his office as Al-monitor explains:
Zanjani’s office released a statement saying that the senior cleric would not respond to the letter and would remain silent, but that his students and junior clerics who study under him would respond. The Qom Seminary, the largest and oldest Islamic seminary in Iran, issued a statement condemning the letter, saying, “Slandering a grand ayatollah for a personal action and determining [who he can meet with], with the excuse of defending the Islamic Republic and the supreme leader, will have no result but weakening the Islamic Republic and the seminary." The letter, which was signed by 84 clerics, stated ominously, “No government which insults its figures and threatens them is sustainable.”
This episode informs us about the working of religious nationalist states. Such states give great prominence to religion and its political leadership regularly reaffirms its loyalty to the religious leadership and doctrine but, in reality, their loyalty is instrumental and when there is a choice between religion and power, the power always triumphs.
