Iran KT

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 Shi’ite mojitaheds

Baha’is

Members of a religious minority originating in nineteenth-century Iran who are considered as heretics or defectors from Islam by mainstream Shi’ites.

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 mojitahed

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’tes one of the 12 infallible heirs to the Prophet descended from Ali

Jihad

Holy war

Majles

The Iranian parliament, which has some 290 seats

Mojtahed

One who exercises ejtehad.

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 monopolitics 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 law of Islam

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 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

Organizations 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