Evolution of views on jihad in shiite Islam

The article analyzes the emergence and the development of the ideas of jihad in Shiite Islam. The concept of jihad in Islamic doctrine meant defense against an aggressor. Given that the Shiites have been in the position of a community persecuted by the authorities for centuries, this predetermined their views on jihad. They began to understand by the concept of jihad not only the right to defend, but also the right to revolt against the tyrant ruler, in contrast to the Sunnis, who usually patiently endured the oppression of unrighteous rulers, fearing even more harm and chaos in the event of unrest. There has been a powerful current among the clergy of Iran that advocated the overthrow of secular rulers and the transfer of power to competent clericals, since they had the right to be intermediaries of the hidden Imam Mahdi. Shiite clergy in the 18th-19th centuries declared jihad against Sunnis and Europeans in order to preserve the people and territory. In the second half of the 20th century, serious disagreements arose between the clergy over the admissibility of participation in politics. In particular, religious leaders-minimalists led by Ayatollah Borujerdi strongly opposed the political activity of the clergy, while Ayatollah Khomeini and his supporters-maximalists considered this activity and the struggle against the monarchy (which Khomeini considered one of the types of jihad) absolutely necessary. As a result, the maximalist trend won, and Iran completely fell under the rule of the Shiite clergy. After the outbreak of the war with Iraq, the authorities directed all efforts of the country to win, but victory was not achieved, and the concept of jihad became more and more widely used to solve the internal problems of the country's development during peacetime.