A Review and Critique of Maarif-al-Rejal book narrative about Reza khan meeting with religious authorities in Najaf

In the middle of the fifth term of the parliament, when Reza Khan was the Prime Minister, he went to the south of the country to suppress the rebellion led by Sheikh Khaz’al. After visiting the Holy Shrines in Najaf, he met Ayatollah Sayyed Abulhasan Esfehani, Ayatollah Naeini, and several other religious leaders of Najaf. One of the sources that report this meeting is the book Ma’arif al-Rijal written by Shiekh Mohammad Herz al-Din. In his narrative, the author mentions that the religious sources of imitation asked Reza Khan two things in return for consenting to his monarchy; first, the presence of five first-class mujtahids in order to monitor the resolutions of the parliament، and second, maintaining the Ja’fari Shiite sect as the official religion of the country. Reza Khan promised to fulfill those demands. However, there are major doubts concerning this narrative, which makes it difficult to believe the report. Thus, the present article, using a critical approach, seeks to answer the following questions: In the mentioned meeting, did the religious sources of imitation make such requests from Reza Khan? Did Reza Khan make such promises to the religious sources of imitation? And, in this meeting, what was the main topic of Reza Khan’s negotiation with the scholars and religious sources of imitation?