SHIISM AND MARTYRDOM: A STUDY OF ISTISHHADI PHENOMENON IN IRAN DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, 1980-1988 MEHDI SOLTANZADEH DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA KUALA LUMPUR 2013 UNIVERSITI MALAYA ORIGINAL LITERARY WORK DECLARATION Name of Candidate: Mehdi Soltanzadeh (I.C/Passport No: R19245432) Registration/Matric No: AHA060041 Name of Degree: Masters in Education Title of Project Paper/ Research Report/ Dissertation/ Thesis ("this Work"): Shiism and Martyrdom: A Study of Istishhadi Phenomenon in Iran During The Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988 I do solemnly and sincerely declare that: (1) I am the sole author/write of this Work; (2) This Work is original; (3) Any use of any work in which copyright exists was done by the way of fair dealing and for permitted purpose and any excerpt or extract from, or reference to or reproduction of any copyright work has been disclosed expressly and sufficiently and the title of the Work and its authorship have been acknowledged in this Work; (4) I do not have any actual knowledge nor do I ought reasonably to know that the making of this work constitutes an infringement of any copyright work; (5) I hereby assign all and every rights in the copyright to this Work to the University of Malaya ("UM"), who henceforth shall be owner of the copyright in this Work and that any reproduction or use in any form or by any means whatsoever is prohibited without the written consent of UM having been first had and obtained; (6) I am fully aware that if in the course of making this Work I have infringed any copyright whether intentionally or otherwise, I may be subject to legal action or any other action as may be determined by UM. Candidate's Signature: Date: Subscribed and solemnly declared before, Date: Witness’s Signature Name: Designation: SHIISM AND MARTYRDOM: A STUDY OF ISTISHHADI PHENOMENON IN IRAN DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, 1980-1988 MEHDI SOLTANZADEH THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA KUALA LUMPUR 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration Page……………………………………………….…………...i Abstract……………………………………………………………………ii Acknowledgement………………………………………………………...iii Iran-Iraq war map…………………………………………………………iv Abbreviations……………………………..……………………………...v INTRODUCTION Statement of the Problem…...……………………………………………3 Research Questions………………………………………………………4 Objective of the Study……………………………………………………4 Scope of the Study……………………………………………………….5 Method of Research……………………………………………………..5 Literature Review………………………………………………………...7 Organization of Chapters………………………………………………24 CHAPTER 1: The Origin of Shia Islam in Iran Introduction……………………………………………………………..26 The Formation of Shia Islam…………………………………………...27 The Sunni-Shia Historical Difference…………………………………..39 The Shia Islam and the Event of Karbala…….………………………...46 The Development of Islam in Iran……………………………………...55 The Development of Shia Islam in Iran………………………………...58 Conclusion………………………………………………………………..62 Chapter 2: Iran’s Revolution and the Role of Scholars in Teaching of Istishhad Introduction……………………………………………………………..64 The 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran…………………………………...65 The Clergies and Istishahdi Teachings…………………………………66 The Intellectuals and Istishahdi Teachings……………………………..73 Ayatollah Khomeini an Istishhadi Ideologue…………………………...90 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….118 Chapter 3: The Iran-Iraq War, and the Practice of Istishhad Introduction……………………………………………………………120 The Roots of the Iran-Iraq War………………………………………..121 Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iran-Iraq War…………………………...138 Saddam Hosein and the Iran-Iraq War………………………………...152 The Main Events of the War…………………………………………..156 The 1988 Ceasefire……………………………………………………166 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….169 Chapter 4: Istishadi Commanders During the Iran-Iraq War Introduction……………………………………………………………171 The Formation of Guardians of Islamic Republic of Iran……………..172 The Guardians of Islamic Revolution and the War with Iraq…………201 The Development of Istishahdi Phenomenon among the Commanders208 The Pioneers of Istishahdi Commanders of Iran during the War……..221 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….226 Chapter 5: The Impact of Istishhad on Iranian Soldiers During the War Introduction……………………………………………………………227 The Inspiration of Karbala as the Source of Istishhad………………...228 The Impact of Karbala on Iranian Soldiers……………………………235 The Iranian Soldiers and preparation for the Istishhad………………..243 The Influence of Istishhadi Soldiers on Iranian Society………………248 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….265 CONCLUSION…………………………………..………………...267 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………..………..277 ANNEX……………………………………………………………...289 IMAGES…………………………………………………………….304 ABSTRAK Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji dan menganalisis kejadian perang Iran-Iraq dalam tempoh lapan tahun yang mana ramai sarjana menyatakan ia sebagai perang Negara Dunia ke Tiga terbesar dan konflik antara negara yang paling lama pada abad ke-20. Pada peringkat pertama perang pada bulan September tahun 1980, tentera Iraq yang dilengkapi dengan peralatan yang sangat lengkap seperti perisai, meriam dan lain-lain peralatan telah berjaya dengan baik pada peringkat tersebut. Mereka telah menghalau tentera Iran pulang dan berjaya menakluki wilayah yang besar, termasuk beberapa wilayah Khuzestan. Namun kejayaan mereka tidak lama. Iran dengan pantas telah menghalang kemenangan tersebut dengan menambah bilangan sukarelawan tentera yang juga dikenali sebagai “Pasdaran” (tentera untuk revolusi) ke hadapan medan peperangan. Ayatollah Khomeini menggelarkan Pasdaran dan Basjit sebagai “tentera 20 juta” kerana telah mengambil beratus ribu orang dalam kalangan rakyat biasa. Kumpulan ini berpegang kepada ideologi yang mana mereka tidak gentar menghadapi hujan peluru dan sanggup melaksanakan misi bunuh diri dengan berjalan ke medan periuk api. Dalam syiah islam, mati syahid merupakan titik tertinggi untuk manusia. Dalam budaya islam terutamanya dalam budaya syiah Iran mati syahid adalah tindakan yang paling dihargai dan bernilai. Syahid menjamin ketahanan dan kegembiraan masyarakat dan secara tidak langsung dapat meningkatkan keupayaan rohani masyarakat. Dengan tindakan sedemikian, mati syahid mampu menghapuskan kelemahan dan kekejaman dalam masyarakat. Ayatollah Khomeini percaya bahawa islam di Iran berkembang dengan adanya darah perjuang mati syahid. Kajian ini menekankan kepada sosio-sejarah iaitu fenomena (istishhad) dalam masyarakat Iran semasa perang Iran-Iraq dari tahun 1980 hingga 1988. Kajian ini dijalankan dengan mengunakan kaedah kualitatif bagi memahami fenomena istishhadi yang berlaku semasa perang Iran-Iraq. Kaedah kualitatif bersesuain dengan disiplin kajian sejarah. Kajian ini membincangkan revolusi idea sebagai pegangan syia Islam yang telah diajar oleh Ayatollah Khomeini, ahli politik serta golongan elit Islam yang mana telah di praktikan semula di dalam peperangan. Secara umumnya, Ideolgi politik Ayatollah Khomeini dan Para ulama Iran yang lain mempunyai impak yang besar kepada pembangunan fenomena Istishhadi dalam masyarakat Iran Semasa perang Iran-Iraq. Dari pandangan Ayatollah Khomeini, dengan adanya para ulama Islam dapat melahirkan perjuang mati syahid. Beliau percaya mati syahid ibarat sekuntum bunga yang indah dalam Islam dan merupakan kedudukan yang paling besar bagi pencapaian seseorang manusia. ABSTRACT This study examines and analyses the eight year of Iran-Iraq war which has been described by many scholars as the Third World's first great war and the longest interstate conflicts of the twentieth century. At the first stage of the war in September 1980, Iraqis, who were very well-equipped with armor, artillery, and other equipment, were highly successful. They pushed Iranian forces back and gained substantial territory, including some parts of Khuzestan province, but their progress soon began to slow. Iran has prevented a quick Iraqi victory by a rapid mobilization of volunteers and deployment of loyal Pasdaran (revolutionary guards) forces to the front. The Pasdaran and Basij -what Ayatollah Khomeini called the "Army of Twenty Million" or People's Militia- recruited hundreds of thousands of people. They were ideologically committed troops facing the rain of bullets and undertaking effective suicide missions by running into minefields. In Iranian Shia Islam, martyrdom is the highest point of ascendance for the human beings. In the Islamic culture and especially in Iranian Shia culture the most valuable and the worthiest action is martyrdom. From Islamic Viewpoint, the martyrs guarantee the resistance and the liveliness of the society and they would increase the spiritual capabilities of the society. By such an action, they destroy weakness and corruption in the society. Ayatollah Khomeini believed that if there were not the blood of the martyrs to water the pure trees of this land there was no such thing as Islam. This research, studies the historical roots of this phenomenon (Istishhad) in Iranian Society during the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988). To carry out this research, qualitative method has been adapted for trying to understand the Istishhadi phenomenon, which consistent with the discipline of historical studies. It addresses the revolutionary idea of Shia theology taught by Ayatollah Khomeini and other political and Islamic elites of Iran, which were practiced in war fronts. The political doctrine of Ayatollah Khomeini and other Iranian Scholars had a great Impact on development of Istishhadi phenomenon in Iranian