Ali Shariati

Iranian sociologist whose revolutionary ideas fused Shia Islam with socialism, influencing the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Ali Shariati (1933–1977) was an Iranian intellectual whose Islamic socialist theories reshaped Iran’s political landscape. Educated in Paris, he blended Marxist critiques of capitalism with Shia theology, arguing that true Islam champions social justice and opposes tyranny. His lectures at Tehran’s Hosseiniyeh Ershad institute drew thousands, making him a hero to youth and a threat to both the Shah and conservative clergy.

Shariati’s concept of Red Shiism framed Imam Hussein’s rebellion against the Umayyads as a model for revolutionary action. He condemned clerical fascism and Western imperialism equally, advocating for a classless society rooted in Islamic ethics. Though he died mysteriously before the 1979 Revolution, his works like Marxism and Other Western Fallacies became ideological touchstones for revolutionaries.

Today, Shariati remains a polarizing figure—celebrated by reformists as a visionary and condemned by hardliners for challenging clerical authority. His ideas continue to inspire movements across the Muslim world seeking alternatives to secular capitalism and theocracy.