The Role of Sheikh Muhammad Baqer Bahari In Constitutional Revolution and a Comparative Study of his Ideas and those of Allama Na ini

Sheikh Muhammad Baqer Bahari was one of the pioneer clergies in constitutional revolution. One of his most important measures in defending constitutionalism was writing a treatise entitled “Izah al- Khata”. There, he was seeking to answer the doubts and objections of the opponents of constitutionalism and comparing the bases of constitutionalism with religious laws. The present study aims at explaining the views and attitudes of Ayatollah Bahari on some of the principles and rules of constitutionalism. Indeed, he was attempting to adjust the principles of constitutionalism to Islamic doctrines and laws to confirm them. In some part of the present article, we deal with a comparison between some views of Sheikh and those of Allama Na’ini as the most prominent representative of constitutionalist scholars in writing treatises. Regarding issues such as freedom equality as well as justification of constitutionalism in the Occultation Period, Sheikh presents argumentations that are unique. The present article uses a descriptive-analytical method based on documents and library sources.