Imam Ali ΄s Studies

The impact of Imam Ali's (peace be upon him) policies on the endurance of Islam among Iranians

Document Type : .

Authors

nematallah safarifroshani 1
mohammad reza shahsanaiee 2
ahmad nezarati zadeh 3

1 Professor at Al-Mustafa International University Higher Education Complex

2 Assistant Professor at Shahid Mahallati Higher Education Complex

3 "Assistant Professor, Islamic Studies Department, Shahid Mahallati Higher Education Complex, Qom"

10.30465/alavi.2025.51925.2727
Abstract
"Among the questions raised about the five-year rule of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) are its achievements. Some writers, such as Ibn Taymiyyah, have considered his caliphate as the beginning of internal division and discord among Muslims, claiming that—compared to the three preceding caliphs—it had no accomplishments. This descriptive-analytical study, based on library research, examines only one of the achievements of his rule: the enduring presence of Islam among Iranians.

The findings of this research indicate that one of the reasons for Iranians' resentment toward the policies of the late Sassanid era and the distorted Zoroastrian religion was the discriminatory practices stemming from them. The continuation of the previous caliphs' policies, which upheld Arab racial superiority over non-Arabs (ʿAjam), led non-Arab peoples—especially Iranians—not only to withhold support for Islam but even to resist it.

The policy introduced by the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him), which rejected discrimination between Arabs and non-Arabs in Islam (both in speech and practice), led Iranians to perceive such discrimination not as inherent to Islam but as the personal views of certain caliphs, prompting them to oppose it. After Iranians gained influence over the caliphate and Iran emerged from Arab domination, they not only refrained from expelling Islam from Iran but actively and enthusiastically spread it."

Keywords

The policies of Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
the endurance of Islam
discrimination
Arabs and non-Arabs."

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us