Abstract
The reflection of Shi’i concepts in the journals Be'sat (Mission) and Enteqam (Revenge) was published with specific goals by the producers of these texts. These two publications, which were secretly published by the revolutionary clergy in the Qom Seminary in the aftermath of the June 5, 1963 (15 Khordad 1342) uprising, sought to elucidate their objectives under the rubric of the discourse of "Revolutionary Shi'ism." The main subject of the present research is the analysis of Shi’i concepts in the content of these two journals and the illustration of the historical context from which these concepts emerged. This study aims to quantitatively analyze Shi’i concepts using the method of quantitative content analysis and a descriptive-analytical approach, examining them separately and analyzing the quantitative data within qualitative axes. The research results are organized around three axes: the principles and foundational concepts of the discourse of Revolutionary Shi'ism, the Shi’i Imams, and Shi’i religious occasions. The findings indicate that Enteqam journal adopted a non-confrontational and explicit approach in its expression, utilizing an epic discourse to present its intended concepts. In contrast, Be'sat journal employed a diverse approach in its expression, adopting a conservative method in arranging its content, aiming to align other movements with its political goals. The use of an emotional-affective discourse was another aspect employed by Be'sat to legitimize the discourse of Revolutionary Shi'ism.
Keywords: Political Discourse of Shi'ism, Be'sat, Enteqam, Shi’i Concepts, Revolutionary Clergy.
Introduction
The June 5, 1963 incident emerged as an authentic movement from within the seminary, garnering majority public support and leading to the formulation of a discourse that shaped subsequent intellectual and political actions. Religious movements, centered around the revolutionary clergy, became more politicized, religious understanding underwent a fundamental transformation, and the concept of political Islam and its related themes became subjects of discussion and analysis. The prevailing idea in religious communities that proximity to power meant worldly contamination and sin, or that government formation was solely the province of the Hidden Imam, was set aside. The implementation of Islamic rules and commands became contingent upon the establishment of an Islamic government. Thus, the structure of the political discourse of Shi'ism took shape after June 5, 1963, directing seminary publications towards promoting this discourse and presenting a coherent framework for it. In this context, the two journals Be'sat and Enteqam emerged with differences in method and content, each striving to elucidate this discourse. This research seeks to answer the question: What were the similarities and differences in the reflection of Shi’i concepts in the journals Be'sat and Enteqam, and what goals did the authors pursue by employing these concepts?
Materials and Methods
Investigating Shi’i concepts in the content of Be'sat and Enteqam presents the researcher with a spectrum of elements related to the Shi’a faith. Analyzing this issue requires a method that helps identify Shi’i concepts within the content of these two publications. The framework of the present study is based on the content analysis method, considered an efficient approach for analyzing press texts. According to scholars, this method provides a basis for understanding, new insight, depicting reality, and guiding action, the ultimate result of which is understanding the hidden meanings in texts and messages. The core of this method involves converting propositions and concepts into numbers, then highlighting the qualitative aspect by interpreting the numbers based on evidence to determine the output and conclusion. The quantitative aspect is formed based on identified concepts and their repetition or non-repetition in the text, while the qualitative approach identifies and interprets the messages and overt/covert layers of the texts based on quantitative data. The data for this study were first counted and then fully specified using methods such as percentages and frequency elements. For a better and more comprehensive understanding of the main approach of this research, tables are presented, and the overall conclusion is reached with an analytical approach focusing on both quantitative and qualitative aspects.
Discussion and Results
Based on the quantitative findings, the journals Be'sat and Enteqam addressed Shi’i concepts with 45 and 32 frequencies, respectively. The analysis of these concepts was conducted within three main axes. Regarding the principles and foundations of Revolutionary Shi'ism discourse, both journals emphasized the inherent link between religion and politics, rejecting their separation. Enteqam, with a frequency of 4 for the concepts of religion-politics and Islamic/Sharia government, adopted a jurisprudential, text-oriented, and epic approach, explicitly advocating for a jurist-centered religious government. Be'sat, with a frequency of 3 for the concept of religion-politics and 5 for the integration of nationality and religion, adopted an interpretive-comparative, social, and inviting approach, seeking the alignment of various Muslim groups, including Sunnis, by employing a more conservative tone. Regarding the Shi’i Imams, Enteqam (with 20 frequencies) and Be'sat (with 23 frequencies) utilized the Imams' conduct in three areas: providing models and strategies, seeking legitimacy, and strengthening the political insight of the audience. Both journals presented the current struggle of the revolutionary clergy as a continuation of the political approach of the Shi’i Imams. Regarding Shi’i occasions, both journals interpreted occasions like mid-Sha'ban, Muharram, and Eid al-Ghadir in line with their political goals. Enteqam used explicit and radical language to instill hope and directly challenge the Pahlavi government, while Be'sat employed a conservative approach, aiming to legitimize political actions and mobilize religious sentiments by generalizing the criteria of events like Ashura.
Conclusion
This research attempted to organize axes based on data extracted from Shi’i concepts in the two journals Be'sat and Enteqam to examine the context of processing these concepts and the goals of the authors. The content analysis of Be'sat and Enteqam shows that both journals were aligned in their general principles and main objectives, differing in their methods of content presentation and their open or exclusive interpretation of certain historical-doctrinal concepts. Enteqam adopted an exclusive and non-confrontational approach, using an epic discourse to motivate and give hope to the audience. It measured Shi’i beliefs and historical events in light of the present, applying them to the current situation. It rejected the emotional discourse surrounding Ashura, emphasizing a rational and methodical explanation of the goals of the Karbala movement, and highlighted the political approach of the Imams, particularly Imam Sadiq (AS), against the Abbasid caliphate to serve the discourse of Revolutionary Shi'ism. Enteqam was explicit in its tone and radical in arranging its content. In contrast, Be'sat extended the criteria of the Imams' conduct, especially that of Imam Hussein (AS), to other revolutionary movements to grant them legitimacy. Utilizing an emotional-affective discourse was a key feature of Be'sat, legitimizing the discourse of Revolutionary Shi'ism by highlighting the convergence of June 5th with the 12th of Muharram and using sorrowful language to describe the sacrifices of Karbala. Be'sat also moved in the same direction as Enteqam by highlighting the political approach and social activities of the Imams and matching their methods with the revolutionary clergy of the 1960s. However, Be'sat's main approach was conservative, striving for harmony among Muslim forces (both Shi’a and Sunni). Unlike Enteqam, it refrained from analyzing the events of Ghadir and the deviation from the post-prophetic government, passing over them generally. Another aspect of this conservative approach was the lack of specification of the desired government type by Be'sat's authors, whereas Enteqam clearly outlined a jurist-centered religious government. Overall, with their similarities and differences, both journals served the discourse of Revolutionary Shi'ism that emerged after the June 5, 1963 incident, criticizing the government's discourse and the dominant elements of the Pahlavi political structure by covering various political, cultural, and religious news with a critical tone.