Iran Key Terms AP Comp Gov

Assembly of Religious Experts

A male-dominated (no female allowed to sit) assembly that drafted the 1979 revolution and is charged with evaluating the performance of the supreme leader

Ayatollah

"Sign of God," a title conferred upon leading Shiite mojtaheds

Baha'is

Members of a religious minority originating in 19th-century Iran who are considered as heretics or defectors from Islam by mainstream Shiites

Bonyads

Quasi-private foundations and religious endowments that are charged with aiding the poor by managing many state-owned enterprises

Bazaaris

Traditional merchants

Cultural Revolution

A campaign that started in 1980 to purge revolutionary forces from university campuses. Led to the closure of Iranian universities for a number of years

Ejtehad

Exercise of independent reasoning in the (re) interpretation of Islamic law

Expediency Council

A committee with the mandate to resolve differences between the parliament and the Guardian Council

Faqih

Jurist, an expert in Islamic jurisprudence

Fatva

Binding religious edict issued by a qualified mojtahed

Guardian Council

A clerically dominated council that determines who can run in elections and decides whether laws passed by the parliament are compatible with Islam

Hojjatoleslam

"Proof of Islam," clerical rank immediately below ayatollah

Imam

Spiritual leader; for Ja'fari Shi'ites one of the twelve infallible heirs to the Prophet descended from Ali

Jihad

Holy war

Majles

The Iranian parliament which has some 290 seats

Mojtahed

One who exercises ejtejad

Mullah

A low-ranking cleric trained in traditional law

Quran

The holy book of Islam

Religious endowments

Large, state-affiliated conglomerates run by clerics and their lay allies, mainly set up for philanthropic purposes, which have a firm grip on Iran's economy through their monopolistic and rent-seeking transactions

Rentier state

A state that derives a substantial portion of its revenue on a regular basis from payments by foreign concerns in the form of rent

Sayyid

A descendant of the Prophet

Shah

King, the undisputed leader

Shari'ah

The canonical law of Islam

Shi'a

The partisans of Ali

Supreme Leader

The country's most powerful political figure, who has the authority to overrule or dismiss the president, appoints members of the Guardian Council, and has personal representatives in the army, universities, etc.

Supreme National Security Council

Organization responsible for Iran's intelligence, military, security, and strategic policies

Ulema

The collective term for religious leaders

Umma

The Islamic community

Velayat-e Faqih

The doctrine of guardianship of the jurisconsult, popularized by Ayatollah Khomeini