The Challenge of Protecting the Citadel of Islam in the Iranian and Ottoman Constitutions (Emphasising the Approach of Agha Najafi Qochani)

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Iran and the Ottoman Empire witnessed political movements triggered by the weakening of social solidarity, mainly due to the changes in the external and internal conditions of the Islamic world and a long period of political and social processes. From this point of view, the theologians (ulemaʾ) in both countries began their theoretical and practical activities to preserve and stabilize their societies. Among these scholars were the ulemaʾ of Najaf, who played a significant role in the development of new concepts and the transmission of ideas between the two countries due to their residence on Ottoman soil and their strong cultural ties with Iran. One of these ulemaʾ was Agha Najafi Quchani, a disciple of Akhund Khorasani and one of the defenders of his principled approach to the constitution. This article attempts to examine Aghanajafi Quchani’s approach to the challenges of maintaining social solidarity and protecting the citadel of Islam (Beyze-ye Islam) in the Iranian and Ottoman constitutions. The article argues that in Agha Najafi’s view, the four main components of constitutionalism, collective rationality, moral freedom and social equality were the basis for the maintenance of social solidarity and the protection of the citadel of Islam. This article was written using a documentary research method and is based on Durkheim’s theory of social solidarity