Draft:Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti

Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti
Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti
Name	Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti
Other Names	Ayatollah Beheshti
Personal Details
Birth Place	Isfahan, Iran
Brith Date	25 October 1928 CE (2 Aban 1307 SH)
Death Place	Tehran, Iran
Death Date	1981 CE (1360 SH)
Teachers	Imam Khomeini
Religion	Islam
	v; t; e;

Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti (1928–1981) was an influential Iranian Shia cleric active in the victory and formation of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979 CE. After the revolution, he held important responsibilities such as the Head of the Supreme Court, Secretary-General of the Islamic Republican Party, and membership in the Assembly of Experts. He was martyred at the headquarters of the Islamic Republican Party due to a bomb explosion by the Mojahedin-e Khalq.

Biography

Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti was born on the morning of 2 Aban 1307 SH (25 October 1928 CE) in a clerical family in the Lomaban neighborhood, near the Chaharsoq neighborhood of Isfahan. His father was Hojjat al-Islam Sayyid Fadlullah Hosseini Beheshti, one of the clerics of this city and the imam of the Lomaban Mosque, and his mother was Masoumeh Begum Khatoonabadi, the daughter of Grand Ayatollah Mir Mohammad Sadegh Khatoonabadi. In Ordibehesht 1331 SH (April 1952 CE), at the age of 24, he married Mrs. Ezzat al-Sharifeh Modares Motlaq, the daughter of Hojjat al-Islam Sayyid Mohammad Baqer Modares Motlaq, who was a relative of his. The result of this marriage was two daughters and two sons.

Education

Preliminary Education

In 1932 CE (at the age of four), he entered a traditional school (maktabkhaneh) and began his education at this age. In 1934 CE, when he was only six years old, he passed the entrance exam for Serwat Primary School in Isfahan (later named 15 Bahman) and, due to his exceptional intelligence, was capable of sitting in the sixth grade; however, due to his young age, he was compelled to begin his studies from the fourth grade. During the sixth grade of elementary school, by participating in the final provincial examinations, he managed to secure the second rank in the city. During this period, he showed great interest in mathematics and foreign languages. In 1940 CE (at the age of 12), he began his studies at Saadi High School (near Imam Khomeini Square) in Isfahan, and during this time, he also engaged in learning the French language. From August 1941 CE, which coincided with the abdication of Reza Khan and his exile to Mauritius Island, until the rise of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the regime's pressure on the clergy was somewhat reduced, and as a result, a large number of young people were attracted to learning seminary lessons; he also decided to continue his education in the field of Islamic sciences.

Seminary Education

In 1942 CE (at the age of 14), he entered the Sadr Seminary of Isfahan and for four years studied Arabic literature, logic, theology, intermediate levels of jurisprudence and principles, and introductory philosophy lessons under great masters who were mostly students of his grandfather. The skilled masters of the seminary considered his sharpness, precision, and progress in these lessons as evidence that he rightfully could succeed his grandfather, Grand Ayatollah Mir Mohammad Sadegh Khatounabadi. In August 1946 CE (at the age of 18), he went to the Qom Seminary and resided in a room at the Hujjatiyya School, and continued the remaining intermediate lessons under Ayatollah Mohaqeq Yazdi, Ayatollah Ardakani, and other high-ranking mujtahids and jurists. He studied part of Kifayat al-Usul under Ayatollah Haj Sheikh Morteza Haeri Yazdi and another part of Kifayat al-Usul and Makasib under Ayatollah Damad. Messrs. Morteza Motahhari, Mirza Ali Meshkini, and Musa Sadr were among Seyyed Mohammad's classmates during this time. From March 1947 CE, along with Messrs. Motahhari and Montazeri—who at that time were among the understanding students of the Imam—he attended the advanced studies (Kharij) in Fiqh and Usul of Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Mohaqeq Damad, and subsequently in the lessons of Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammad Taqi Khansari, Ayatollah Hojat Koohkamareh, and Ayatollah Haeri Yazdi. He believed that he had learned precision of view and the breadth of knowledge from Ayatollah Borujerdi.

In 1948 CE (at the age of 20), he became acquainted with Messrs. Mohammad Mofatteh, Musa Shubayri Zanjani, Musa Sadr, Naser Makarem Shirazi, Ahmad Azari Qomi, Seyyed Mehdi Rouhani, Ali Meshkini Ardabili, and Abdulrahim Rabani Shirazi, and engaged in study groups with them. He still had a passion for acquiring intellectual sciences and, in order to resolve some ambiguities and philosophical questions and seeking an academic scholarship, intended to travel abroad; however, with the guidance of his close and knowledgeable friend, Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari, during a trip to Qom, he became acquainted with the simple and fruitful presence of Allameh Tabatabai and was so captivated and captivated by his conduct, behavior, patience, and forbearance that he abandoned the trip and for five years benefited from his presence in the lessons of Mulla Sadra's Al-Asfar al-Arba'a, Ibn Sina's The Book of Healing, and discussion on the book The Principles of Philosophy and the Method of Realism.

University Education

In 1945 CE (at the age of 17), while engaged in passing the final intermediate lessons, he also learned a complete course of English language "Reader". His thirst for knowledge was such that in the same year (1948 CE) he restarted his classical education and after obtaining a diploma in literature, he continued his studies at the Faculty of Rational and Transmitted Sciences (Theology and Islamic Studies) of the University of Tehran in the field of philosophy. In 1951 CE (at the age of 23), he obtained his bachelor's degree in philosophy and managed to pass the scholarship exam for abroad; also at this time, he completed learning the English language intensively with a foreign teacher. In 1955 CE, he succeeded in obtaining a master's degree in Rational Sciences (Philosophy and Islamic Wisdom) with a thesis entitled "Simplicity or Composition of the Body" under the supervision of Dr. Mahmoud Shahabi and approval of the jury, with an excellent grade from the University of Tehran.

In 1956 CE, he began studying for a PhD in Philosophy and Rational Sciences at the Faculty of Theology, and despite the presence he was required to have in Qom, he commuted to Tehran for the sake of acquiring knowledge and occupation. In 1959 CE (at the age of 31), he obtained his PhD degree in Islamic Philosophy and, under the supervision of Ayatollah Motahhari—who at this time was a professor at the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies—defended his doctoral thesis entitled "Metaphysical Issues in the Quran"; he also prepared and compiled the book "What is Prayer?" and at this time had sufficient proficiency in three languages: English, Arabic, and German.

Activities

Scientific Activities

Teaching: One of the factors that distinguished him from other distinguished students was the formulation of questions and objections accompanied by study, discussion, and precision; moreover, he was among the students who engaged in teaching while studying in the Sadr and Qom Seminaries.
Establishing Ayatollah Damad's Kharij Course: One of his actions during his studies was establishing Ayatollah Damad's advanced religious studies (Kharij) course with the help and assistance of a number of scholars of the Qom Seminary.
Teaching English: In the year 1950 (CE), believing that clerics should have financial independence and considering earning a livelihood through religion as incorrect, he engaged in teaching English in Tehran high schools to cover his study and family living expenses.
In the year 1951 (CE), he began work at the Ministry of Education and engaged in teaching English at Hakim Nezami High School in Qom.
In the year 1954 (CE), he founded the "Religion and Knowledge" High School in a new style in Qom and was responsible for managing it until the year 1963 (CE); he also established classes for seminary students to learn the language.
In the year 1960 (CE), he founded the Haqqani School in the city of Qom in collaboration with several friends, and with the consultation and assistance of Mr. Ayatollah Meshkini, Ayatollah Rabbani Shirazi, Ayatollah Jannati, and Ayatollah Martyr Saeidi, he formed sessions for discussion and designing the seminary system. In these sessions, a seventeen-year plan for the education and training of seminary students was presented, which was in fact the first step towards organizing and shaping the lessons, placing the seminary on the path of evolution and dynamism.
In the year (1960 (CE)), he undertook the preparation and arrangement of the articles Banking and Islamic Financial Laws, The World of Creation and the World of Command in the Quran, and A New Class in Our Society.
Among Seyyed Mohammad's activities was forming a research group along with seventeen of his friends to study cultural sections regarding the history of religions, the history of Christianity, materialist schools, etc., and present the results in public sessions. Seyyed Mohammad studied the book Ali Refutation of the Materialist School, which was useful for examining materialism, and studied the book On the Ruins of the Materialist School, written by "Farid Wajdi", with Mr. Montazeri.
In the year 1961 (CE), he prepared and arranged articles titled Governance in Islam and The Law of Causality in Science and Religion.
In the year 1962 (CE), he formed the Islamic Centre for Students and Educators of Qom in collaboration with Dr. Mofatteh.
In the year 1963 (CE) (age 35), with the help of a group of scholars of the Qom Seminary, he took action to form a research group regarding governance in Islam.

In the year 1972 (CE), he prepared and sent an article titled Ruling on Abortion and Sterilization in Islamic Sharia regarding family planning from the Islamic perspective for the World Health Organization conference in the city of Rabat, the capital of Morocco.
In the year 1974 (CE), he arranged the book God from the Perspective of the Quran.

Propagation Activities

In the month of Ramadan of the same year (1947 (CE)), upon the recommendation of Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi and along with Mr. Motahhari, Hossein-Ali Montazeri, and about seventeen seminary students, he decided to travel to remote villages for propagation purposes and, in addition to gaining personal information and experience, take action to identify the people's problems and solve them; another of his goals in these trips was the financial independence of clerics in study and propagation, which was experienced collectively.

Monthly Discourse: In the year 1949 (CE), he formed sessions titled "Monthly Discourse" with the presence of Mr. Ayatollah Motahhari, Ayatollah Taleqani, and a number of others, with the aim of conveying the message of Islam to the searching generation with new methods in Tehran, and published the issues raised in these sessions as articles in the books Monthly Discourse and Ashura Discourse.

Political Activities

At the age of 16, he assumed the leadership role of an anti-oppression group and, by mobilizing the people, replaced the headman of a village.
In 1329 SH (1950 CE), a year coinciding with the peak of political and social struggles of the National Oil Movement led by Ayatollah Kashani and Mosaddegh, he actively participated in demonstrations, gatherings, and meetings as a young cleric.
During the strike on 29 Tir (20 July), which was held against Qavam's remarks at the Isfahan Telegraph Office building, he delivered a speech at the province's telegraph office and consequently was summoned by the police department.
Nurturing Qualified Revolutionary Forces: Following the commencement of the Imam's Movement in 1341 SH (1962 CE), he also rose to struggle and engaged in nurturing qualified, revolutionary, and committed forces. These extensive and fundamental activities, participation in sessions and foundational discussions of leading clerics of Qom, drafting statements, and an active role in gatherings of the 15 Khordad (5 June) movement, sending condolence telegrams to Qom maraji' following the tragedy of that day, coordinating clerics of Isfahan city, and overall aligning with the struggles of Imam Khomeini, led in the winter of that year to his suspension from cooperation with the Ministry of Education by SAVAK, being placed on waiting status, and exiled to Tehran.
Membership in the Jurisprudential and Political Council of the Islamic Coalition Society: After entering Tehran and connecting with the Islamic Coalition Society groups, Imam Khomeini appointed him, along with Mr. Morteza Motahhari, Mohyiddin Anvari, and Mehdi Molaei, as the jurisprudential and political council of this society.
Changing Textbook Content: Among his other activities during this time was collaboration with Dr. Bahonar, Dr. Ghafouri, Broughi, Razi Shirazi, and Roozbeh in the field of changing the content of religious education books to Islamic thought and thinking.
Speech in Isfahan: On 5 Mordad 1343 SH (27 July 1964 CE), coinciding with 17 Rabi' al-Awwal 1384 LH, he delivered an important speech at the Chaharbagh School of Isfahan which led to his arrest. In this speech, he considered the message of the birth of that day to be resistance and struggle against the enemies of God, and later referred to that day as an unforgettable memory.
Establishment of the Hamburg Islamic Center: In 1344 SH (1965 CE), upon the recommendation of several maraji' (Ayatollah Haeri, Ayatollah Milani, and Ayatollah Khansari) and with the approval of the Imam, he departed for Hamburg and engaged in propagating the religion of Islam at the Ayatollah Borujerdi Mosque. Since no Islamic organization existed in Hamburg until that time, with the help of several Muslim students from Europe, he formed the nucleus of the Union of Associations of Persian-speaking Student Groups. Among his other actions in Germany was changing the name of the "Iranians' Mosque" to "Hamburg Islamic Center", following which non-Iranian and non-Persian-speaking Muslim brothers, especially Arab brothers, also attended this mosque.

Publication of the book The Voice of Islam in Europe: In 1968 (CE), he prepared and compiled a book titled The Voice of Islam in Europe in five world languages, though SAVAK prevented the publication of this book.
Political missionary travels: In the summer of 1969 (CE), during a trip to Iraq, he visited Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Khoei, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Baqir Sadr, and Ayatollah Hakim and held discussions with them. Also in this year, he performed the pilgrimage and, in order to renew ties with friends, especially Imam Musa Sadr, travelled to Syria and Lebanon, and from there went to Turkey. In the same year, at the invitation of students, he attended the first student seminar held for two weeks at the Hamburg Mosque, which led to the exchange of useful ideological discussions among them; in this year, he prepared and compiled the articles Which Path and The Role of Faith in Human Life.
Declaration against the Zionist regime: In 1970 (CE), with his initiative and the companionship of Muslims residing in America, a declaration against the crimes of the Zionist regime in Germany was published, which caused concern for the Shah's regime. His speech regarding "Worship of God and Just Laws in Islam" and his extensive political and enlightening activities among students and other Iranians residing in Europe caused that after he came to Iran in the same year, he was banned from returning to Germany by SAVAK.
Establishment of the Maktab Tawhid Center: After returning from Germany, he participated in the establishment of "Maktab Tawhid" as a scientific center for Muslim sisters in Tehran; this scientific center made it possible for many sisters to study religious and Islamic sciences. Among other institutions launched at this time with his assistance was "Kanoon Tawhid", which became a base for the publication and propagation of Islam and the gathering of youth, and by holding student discussions, classes, and numerous speeches, played a huge role in mobilizing the masses and giving life to this revolutionary center.
Establishment of the Maktab Quran Society: In 1971 (CE), he managed Quran interpretation sessions and analysis of political issues under the cover of the "Maktab Quran" society. In these sessions, he familiarized youth with Quran interpretation and raising new topics such as Islamic government, justice, liberalism, enjoining good, and freedom, and since the teachings had a significant impact on the construction of youth, it was eventually closed under pressure from SAVAK. In 1975 (CE), due to the affairs of the "Maktab Quran" sessions and connection with abroad, he was arrested by SAVAK and detained for a few days.
Formation of the Combatant Clergy Association: In 1976 (CE), due to the cohesion and organization of the clergy and with the help and assistance of Messrs. Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari, Dr. Mohammad Mofatteh, Hojjat al-Islam Emami Kashani, and Hojjat al-Islam Maleki, he founded the initial core of the Combatant Clergy. This organization was initially proposed as the Combatant Clergy Assembly in Shemiran and in 1977 (CE) announced its existence under the name "Combatant Clergy Association".
Founding of the Islamic Republic Party: In the spring of 1978 (CE), with the aim of coordinating the fundamental activities of students and university professors and the political movements of groups believing in the leadership of Imam Khomeini, he travelled to Europe and America; also in the same year, in order to organize revolutionary forces in a single guild, he laid the foundation of the Islamic Republic Party and following these activities, on 5 December 1978 (CE), he was arrested by the Joint Committee against Sabotage. The "Islamic Republic Party", which had been proposed by Seyyed Mohammad in late 1977 (CE) in order to organize revolutionary forces in a single guild, announced its existence on 18 February 1979 (CE), along with Messrs. Khamenei, Seyyed Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardabili, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and Mohammad Javad Bahonar, and in the first party session, Ayatollah Beheshti was elected as the Secretary-General of the party by the majority vote of members.
Accompanying Imam Khomeini in Paris: After his release, he took charge of the leadership of the fighters inside the country and with the Imam's entry into Paris (5 October 1978 (CE)), in October/November 1978 (CE), he departed for Paris for negotiation and coordination with him.
Formation of the Revolutionary Council: In early January 1979 (CE), by the order of Imam Khomeini, he formed the Revolutionary Council (with the cooperation of Messrs. Morteza Motahhari, Mohammad Javad Bahonar, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Seyyed Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardabili, Seyyed Mahmoud Taleghani, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani, Mehdi Bazargan, Mostafa Katiraei, Yadollah Sahabi, and Ahmad Haj-Seyyed Javadi).
Prevention of airport closure: On 28 January 1979 (CE), in protest against the Bakhtiar government which had prevented the entry of the Imam into Iran, he sat in protest at the Tehran University Mosque, and the scope of this protest reached such an extent that a large number of clerics, students, and people also joined the mosque, and as a result of this strike, the Shah's regime was forced to reopen the airport on 29 January 1979 (CE).
Head of the Judiciary: After the victory of the Revolution, one of the pillars of the Islamic Republic system that needed review, transformation, and reform was the Judiciary, which the Revolutionary Council entrusted the execution of this important task to Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti.
Membership in the Assembly of Experts: In the summer of 1979 (CE), he was elected by the people as the representative of Tehran in the Assembly of Experts with the highest vote and in the first session of the Assembly, he was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Assembly.
Head of the Supreme Court: The competence, expertise, and successful performance of Seyyed Mohammad caused that on 23 February 1980 (CE), by the order of Imam Khomeini, he undertook the responsibility of the "Supreme Court" – which at that time was the highest judicial authority of the country.
Member of the Presidency Council: On 23 June 1981 (CE), after the impeachment of Bani-Sadr, he became a member of the Acting Council of Presidency.

Works

Numerous works remain from this great martyr in the form of speeches, articles, and books, including: Template:Div col

Islamic Economics;
What We Know About the Party;
Al-Tawhid fi al-Quran;
The Importance of Cooperative Methods;
Banking and Financial Laws of Islam;
Dos and Don'ts;
An Examination and Analysis of Jihad, Justice, Liberalism, Imamate;
Health and Family Planning;
Five Discourses;
Reliance on God from the Quranic Perspective;
Four Discourses by Two Martyrs (co-authored by Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti and Dr. Mohammad-Javad Bahonar);
Truth and Falsehood;
Governance in Islam;
Hajj in the Quran;
God from the Quranic Perspective;
Dr. Shariati, A Seeker on the Path of Becoming;
Usury in Islam;
The Mission of the University and the Student;
Method of Interpretation from the Quran – Series of Islamic Lessons (3);
Clergy in Islam and Among Muslims;
Anthem of Monotheism;
Knowing Religion;
Mystical Knowledge;
Night of Qadr;
Knowing Islam;
Knowledge;
Knowledge from the Perspective of Fitrah;
Knowledge from the Quranic Perspective;
The Voice of Islam in Europe;
Draft Bill of Qisas;
Scientific and Practical Plan for Islamic Educational Institutions (co-authored by Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti and the Editorial Board of the Nahj al-Balagha Foundation);
Philosophy and Divine Knowledge;
Which Path;
Our Positions;
Victorious Struggler;
Theoretical Foundations of the Constitution;
Music and Recreation in Islam;
The Issue of Ownership – Series of Islamic Lessons (1);
The Environment of the Emergence of Islam;
School and Specialization;
Management in Islam;
Fighting Distortion, One of the Goals of the Prophet of Islam;
The Role of Freedom in Child Education;
What is Prayer?;
The Role of Faith in Human Life;
The Role of Organization in Advancing the Islamic Revolution;
Duties of Islamic Student Associations in Europe Towards Muslim Youth;
Features of the Islamic Revolution of Iran;
A New Stratum in Our Society.

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Assassination and Martyrdom

Order, organization, management, and wisdom were among his rare characteristics, and the enemies of Iran and the Islamic Revolution were deeply concerned about these prominent features. Therefore, they conspired against him with all their power and launched extensive propaganda against him. First, they attempted a white assassination and tried to undermine him among the people, and finally resorted to physical assassination. After 53 years of activity, he ultimately attained the grace of martyrdom on Sunday, 7 Tir 1360 SH (28 June 1981 CE), at 9:07 PM, following the explosion at the "Islamic Republic Party" headquarters, which was organized by the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, along with 72 of his companions.

References

Foundation for Islamic Revolution Historiography and Encyclopedia, Publication date: n.d., Retrieved 12 June 2024.

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