Effect of Conversion of Solar Hijri Calendar to Imperial on Islamic Movement

In 1975, the Pahlavi regime converted the Solar Hijri calendar (which was based on the Hijra or migration of Prophet Muhammad (S) from Mecca to Medina: a religious event) to an imperial calendar (coronation date of Cyrus the Great: a national event). This conversion stirred reactions by various walks of life, in particular the clerics. The Shah had to finally convert the calendar again to the Solar Hijri to quell public protests. This research paper intends to find an answer to this question: What was the reaction of various walks of life including the clerics, academicians and political parties to the conversion of the calendar and what was the effect of this reaction on the victory of Islamic movement in Iran? This research paper has adopted a descriptive-analytical method based on library sources and documents. The Shah converted the calendar to show the glory of ancient Iran to the Westerners and he did not mean insulting the religion of Islam. However, since he had put away a religious symbol, substituting it with an imperial symbol, the clerics interpreted it as an insult to Islam and the Prophet (pbuh). To the university students it was a first move to eliminate Islam and to the political parties it was an introduction to a drastic chance in Constitution.