The ideology of reform during the age of the Imams

By: Muhammad Jawad Sahibi

It is self-evident that the movements which claim to be reform movements were not all the same. Some claimed to be reform movements and actually were reform movements. Some used the term reform to create corruption. Some others started out as real reform movements but in the end deviated from their course.

The Alavi uprisings during the Ummayad and Abbasid periods were usually reform movements.

The first internal uprising in Islam came after the deviance in the course of leadership. The peak of this uprising was coupled with the famous speech of the Noble Lady, Fatimah Zahra (a). The text of this speech, which was given in front of a large audience in the Prophet’s (s) Mosque, showed:

- The importance of truthful leadership and the reason behind the sending of prophets throughout history
- The importance of Islamic law from various angles
- The importance of being firm on the straight path
- The importance of bravery and standing up to oppressors
- The importance of spreading correct political and social views throughout the society thus wakening it up
- The importance of spreading truth, noble merits, and justice
- The importance of youth and their gathering to bring forward the goals of truth and freedom
- The importance of harms leveled out through disputes and laziness
- The importance of the harms leveled out through indifference of social matters
- The importance of the harms leveled out through silence when unrighteous people are taking control of the society
- The importance of the harms leveled out through oppressive leaders

In this way the daughter of the Prophet and the mother of salvation took the first step in the first internal uprising with the purpose of wakening up the Islamic society in regards to political and religious matters. This was a revolution that her sons, all the way to the present age, have taken the vanguard.

After the first internal uprising in Islam, which reached its peak with the speech of Fatimah Zahra (a), the movement of a large number of Shia Muslims has been to correct political culture and stand up to oppression. They never refrained from giving whatever they had in this way.

Resistance movements were established which openly fought against the ruling parties of their time and against corruption. They were always out to find a just and righteous leader who would lead the society in the right direction. This was accomplished by the sayyids and their supporters. Some of these leaders have gained popularity, such as:

- The struggles of Abu Dhar Ghaffari and ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud against the economic corruption of the caliphate.
- The struggles of those who fought in the Jamal War.
- The struggles of those who fought in the Siffin War against corrupt beliefs.
- The struggles of those who fought in Nahrawan against ignorance and stupidity.
- The armed wars led by Imam Hassan against the armies of Mu’awiyah.
- The great uprising of Hajar bin ‘Uday and his supporters who tried to peal the veil off of the people pretending to be Muslim.
- ‘Ashura which was fought to save humanity.
- The bloody uprising of Zayd bin ‘Ali and his supporters.
- The bloody uprising of the martyrs of Fakh.
- The uprising of Sa’id bin Jubayr with a group of revolutionaries against the Thaqafi pilgrims.