Abstract
"Independence" in the Qajar era, due to the encounter with the two phenomena of "colonialism" and "modernity", became one of the fundamental biopolitical issues and intellectual challenges of Iranian society. Therefore, Shiite scholars, to defend Iranian independence, proposed a specific system of thought that was rooted in the rules of Islam and influenced by the three principles of "Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Kufr", "the rule of negating the mustache", and the principle of "preserving the testicles of Islam". The issue addressed in this article is "independence" from the perspective of religious modernism in the Qajar era, with an emphasis on the opinions and actions of Akhund Khorasani. The question of the present research is to examine the historical events that made the issue of independence problematic in his thought, as well as how he understood this concept and his ideological system and instructions for realizing independence, considering the requirements of the turbulent pre- and post-constitutional era. The research, using a historical explanation method, proposes the hypothesis that Akhund Khorasani, regarding the religious foundations of independence, viewed the principle of "preserving the testicles of Islam" with a more comprehensive view than other jurists and paid detailed attention to the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of independence in his thought process. He engaged in political and social action through three approaches: inspiration, support, guidance, and direct and pragmatic intervention, all aimed at addressing the issue of independence in his era. Other findings show the formulation of a modernist religious approach to the concept of "independence" from the perspective of Akhund Khorasani, as one of the prominent and leading modernist scholars in the Qajar era, whose special attention to "economic" independence can be called a martyr on the path to independence.
Keywords: Independence, Khorasani cleric, constitutionalism, economic independence, religious modernism.
 
Introduction
What made the concept of "independence" in Iran problematic was the encounter with the phenomenon of "colonialism" and the "modern" world. With the beginning of the Iran-Russia wars and the threat to Iran's independence, Islamic scholars and elites set out to find a solution to this issue, each explaining the issue of independence from their own perspective. In the Qajar era, two different responses were presented to the issue of Iran's independence and self-sufficiency: one response was given by the modernist movement, and based on it, this movement considered Iran's growth and progress to be dependent on abandoning tradition and religion, denying independence and self-reliance, and then being absorbed into the West; and the other response was presented by religious scholars and intellectuals, based on which not only the sublime and progressive teachings of Islam were considered the secret of the country's progress, but also the necessity of independence and self-reliance was insisted on
 
Materials and Methods
To study the genealogy of the concept of independence in his thought, the genealogy of this concept in religious thought will be examined, and which of the approaches of religious thought to the issue of independence is his concern will be examined. The research method is the historical explanation method and the conceptual history approach. This approach tries to show how concepts have been formed, transformed, and what impact they have had in different societies or periods. (Koselleck, 2004, 75) Analyzing the semantic developments of concepts in different historical, cultural, or social contexts and comparing their developments reveals the course of historical evolution based on the conceptual approach.
 
Discussion and Results
Independence in the thought system of Akhund Khorasani finds meaning within the framework of religious discourse. Considering his life in the era of confrontation between tradition and modernity, his mental knowledge system has been influenced by these two main epistemes. Although he is trying to present new interpretations of religion and its conceptual system as a religious modernist. In the context of the issue and concept of independence, which is the great challenge of the Qajar era with the world outside itself; he also pays attention to the political, economic and cultural dimensions of independence by utilizing the main components of religious thought regarding independence, especially the issue of "preserving the testicle of Islam", with a more comprehensive view than other jurists. Akhund Khorasani emphasized the necessity of institution-building, legislation, and people's participation through the National Consultative Assembly. While referring to the issue of independence in his letters, he considers this issue to be one of the most important obligations, one of the rational obviousness, one of the duties of the general public, and its realization is a source of wealth and liberation from poverty. He considers the necessities of achieving independence to include legislation, the correct implementation of the law, the importance of solidarity and unity, education, the creation of structures such as banks and military schools, and the establishment of a republican system. He pursued independence within the framework of the constitutional system by limiting the power of the Shah and confronting the interference of Russia and England. These differences in his approach compared to other scholars are influenced by the historical conditions in which he lived. The set of actions and behavior of the Khorasani cleric confirms his beliefs and opinions on the subject of independence in a way that his character and views were completely in harmony, to the extent that he sacrificed his life for the sake of achieving Iran's economic independence and the constitutional ideal.
 
Conclusion
The second answer also contained another principle, which was the possibility of selectively utilizing Western experiences, of course, based on Islamic rulings and values, which were explicitly proposed by religious scholars and intellectuals. What is important is the test of the truth and effectiveness of these two answers in relation to the events of the Qajar era. The debates surrounding the issue of independence in the present era are also reproduced and updated from the same past debates. Therefore, it is necessary to identify its ideological and historical roots. The concept of "independence" was at the center of intellectual conflicts during the Constitutional era, and the scholars of that era, relying on the foundations of Shiite jurisprudence, offered different definitions and solutions for its realization. The mainstream of constitutionalism, led by great scholars such as the cleric Mullah Mohammad Kazem Khorasani in Najaf and his Iranian associates, considered constitutionalism not only contrary to Islamic law but also the only political system capable of preserving Iran's independence, dignity, and territorial integrity against the onslaught of colonialism and tyranny. This view was in contrast to the views of both the legalist and neutral scholars.