Dawn Breakers

Menu
2256
Table of Contents Resources Brief Background on Shí’a Islam
Bookmark
Bookmarks
     
     
    Bookmark
    Bookmarks
       
       

      The ‘ulamá are trained in Islamic religious law (fiqh) at religious schools called madrasa 9RES, where the full course can last for over a decade. There are two main schools of Shí’a law: Usúlí and Akhbárí, so depending on which school you followed, you would go to that group’s madrasa. At the end of training, the student is certified as being able to perform ijtihad, the process of deriving judgments on points of religious law. Such a person is called a mujtahid.

      The Shí’a believe that for a Shí’a who has not undertaken the necessary training to become a mujtahid, it is necessary and obligatory that that person follows (taqlíd) the judgment of someone who has (that is they have to follow a mujtahid). 

      There are different levels of attainment for the ‘ulamá, some are lower level, some at mid-level and others higher level, depending on how much they have studied, how many followers they have, etcetera. A mujtahid whose legal guidance is followed by a significant number of believers and recognized as such by the other high level ‘ulamá, eventually becomes a marja` at-taqlid (reference point for imitation). Today these individuals are more commonly known as Áyatu’lláh.

      Why is the above important? It gives immense power to the Islamic clergy (the ‘ulamá), and it ensures that the masses (even if they are literate) only follow the clergy (the ‘ulamá) and not their own thinking when it comes to applying religion in practice. 

      Now imagine the early 1800’s. At that time, except for these ‘ulamá and few of the noble born, no one else could read or write. The population was totally in the control of the ‘ulamá, who could interpret, invoke, incite and drive whatever view and agenda they wanted; and the illiterate masses would follow faithfully and blindly. It is against this backdrop of intense blind faith coupled with superstition and immense corruption and brutality, that the Dawn-Breakers happens. That the protagonists in this narrative break away from the blind masses is incredible. It truly marked a spiritual revolution and the Dawn of a New Day.

      * * * * * * * * * * * * *

      18 / 93