The conditions of Bahaism organization from the second Pahlavi to the Islamic Revolution:
The second Pahlavi periods of time must be considered as the golden periods of time of Bahaism from the onset forming till now. Due to the following reasons, Bahaism gained such a power and influence in the political, economic and cultural structure in Iran during this period of time that if the Excellency Imam Khomeini [1]‘s (P.M.) uprising and the victory of the Islamic Revolution hadn’t happened, maybe it can be said that the first Baha’i government of the world would have formally established in Iran.
As a matter of fact, the onset of the leadership of Shoghi Effendi was considered as the end of apostolic age and the onset of genesis age by the leaders of this cult. The genesis age ended during shogi’s leadership period of time, too and the period of time after him can be considered as the golden periods of time of Bahaism whose aim was gaining the political sovereignty in Iran and other parts of the world.
Shogi describes the process of achieving the golden community as follows:
“The perfect tablets of the wills of the Excellency Abdul Baha is the connecting ring which connects the previous age with the current one called the genesis age which is described as transmission age forever…
It is our duty to make this age eternal because the influence of institutes is being in development and the divine kingdom which is indicating the advent of golden age of the Blessed Beauty must be established. It will depend on the current attempts particularly that is spent to follow the method of brave and diligent ancestors.”[۱] [2]
Consequently, the rise that Bahaism had taken with the Pahlavi government’s gaining power to dominate on Iran became faster during the second Pahlavi period of time. The reasons are as follows:
I) The removal of Reza Khan and Muhammad Reza’s gaining power:
Removing and exiling Reza Shah done by Mottafeghin in 1320 S.H., he was replaced by his son in order to provide and serve the foreigners’ interests in Iran. Although Muhammad Reza had gained power like his father backed by aliens, but he did not have the authority due to being young, inexperienced, incompetent and weak in spirit. He needed a reliable support to continue and concentrate on power and the Baha’is played the role of this support for him. It controlled from the prime minister office and important ministries to army, SAVAK, oil, TV, and important economic bottlenecks.
II) The establishment of the Zionistic regime:
Through the establishment of the Zionistic regime earlier Muhammad Reza Shah’s government in 1328 S.H., the star of fortune for the Baha’is rose. It was so pleasant for the Baha’is that Shoghi Effendi established the universal house of justice of Bahaism under the shadow of this forged regime in Palestine land and announced its main role as having relationship with Israel.[2] [3]
Pahlavi regime was of the first countries which recognized this forged regime officially, established the Iranian consulate in Palestine, provided the needed oil of this regime and established closed political, military and economic ties with it.
III) the serious entrance of America into the political domain of Iran:
America wasn’t present in the universal domain in 19th century so much. Earlier 20th century particularly after World WarⅡ, it entered into the political equations of the world seriously.
Occupying Iran on the solar month of Shahrivar 1320 S.H., America occupied Iran along with other Mottafeghin forces and the president of this country Roosevelt entered into Tehran city along with Stalin and Churchill in order to settle the government after Reza Shah and war issues.
The means for the influence of America in Iran were the Baha’is and they took the capabilities of Iran backed by America and the Zionistic regime.
IV) Repressing clergymen and religious forces:
The repressing measures of Reza Khan against clergymen such as exiling and martyring Ayatollah Modarres as the symbol of fighting and revolutionary clergyman, omitting clergymen from judicial and educational system, unveiling, massacring Goharshad uprising were displayed and margined the religious movement for a while.
From organizational transformations point of view, Bahaism activities are divided into two sections:
I) From 1320 to 1336 S.H. The leadership of the cult, Shoghi Effendi was going to expand its organizational structure in universal level and preach it. The most important measure was providing 10-year plan of Bahaism.
Maybe, the most important aim of the plan is the establishment of the universal house of justice in Israel (the holiest land) in order for this cult not to be collapsed after himself.
During the second Pahlavi, the Iranian government was practically in Baha’is hands. In addition to Hoveyda who had the longest period of premiership in all Pahlavi period of time and some ministers of the cabinet, the economy of the country was in hands of some capitalists such as Hojabr Yazdani, Sabet Pasal and Abdul Karim Ayadi [4], the Baha’i physician of the Shah.
Imam Khomeini (P.H.) emerged and uprooted Bahaism and aimed the Pahlavi regime, the forerunner of Bahaism in Iran. Imam Khomeini was the revitalizer of Iran and Islam.
Source: The study of Bahaism movement intellectually and culturally, pp.191-197.
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[۱] [6] Shoghi, the Baha’i period, p.3.
[۲] [7] Shoghi Effendi, Qarn-e-Badi’a, p. 164.