Religious Thought and Nature of Tobacco Movement with Special Reference to Imam Khomeini's Viewpoint

Interaction and confrontation between the institution of clergy and politics and confrontation of the Shia ulama with the government is one of the social and historical characteristics of the recent century. Tobacco Movement which reached its climax after the fatwa of Mirzai Shirazi dealt a serious blow on the British domination and created serious challenges for the Qajar dictatorial system. Various analyses have been given about nature and base of this movement by historians and analysts. Imam Khomeini on different occasions paid special attention to the Tobacco Movement, considering it a new chapter in the history of the struggles of the people of Iran. While referring to different viewpoints about that event, the present article is an attempt to elucidate Imam Khomeini’s viewpoints in this regard through relying on his writings and speeches.