Haghani Circle

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Haghani school (also Haqqani) is a Shi'a school of thought in Iran founded by a group of clerics based in the holy city of Qom and headed by Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, an influential hoze and theologian. It has been described as "a kind of Ecole Nationale d'Administration for the Islamic Republic" whose alumni "form the backbone of the clerical management class that runs Iran's key political and security institutions." During Iran's elections it is said to be common for candidates to visit the city to "pay homage" to Haghani religious leaders and "receive their blessing." [1] Another source says "most Haghani people serve either in the security forces or in the military."[2]

According to journalist Tim Rutten "the Haghani is a particularly aggressive school of radical Shiite Islam which lives in expectation of the imminent coming of the Mahdi, a kind of Islamic messiah, who will bring peace and justice -- along with universal Islamic rule -- to the entire world. ... Members ... of this school believe they must act to speed the Mahdi's coming." [3].

The school trains clerics with both a traditional and modern curriculum, including a secular education in science, medicine, politics, and Western/non-Islamic philosophy. It was founded by Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Ayatollah Dr. Beheshti and Ayatollah Sadoughi. Ayatollah tallegani Many famous theologians and influential figures in Iran's politics after the revolution were associated (as teacher or student) with the Haghani Circle or follows its ideology:

Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, the founder of Haghani School, is President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ideological mentor and spiritual guide.

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Nasr, Vali, The Shia Revival, (Norton, 2006), p.215
  2. ^ Iran on the eve of the presidential elections. Mohsen Sazegara, May 23, 2005
  3. ^ Ahmadinejad walks away with a win - Los Angeles Times, Tim Rutten, September 29, 2007