Religion of Revolution: An inquiry into Ali Shariati's Redefinition of Islam as a Catalyst for Social and Political Change

This study explores the concept of the "Religion of Revolution" by inquiring into Shariati's reinterpretation of key Islamic theories such as monotheism (Tawhid/social Tawhid), prophethood, and martyrdom as revolutionary principles, which are crucial for the collective awakening of marginalized communities. One of the important themes of Shariati's philosophical framework is that it compares the historical dialectic of religion as a mechanism of both liberation and domination. As a scholar of the sociology of religion, Ali Shariati attempted to redefine the sociopolitical and religious diemensions of Islam. Through his reductive framework, Shariati criticized the perversion of the traditional Islamic teachings and politicization of Islam to supporting oppressive structures. Shariati viewed Islam as the "Religion of Revolution", not passive faith and hence deemed the revolutionary nature of Islam as a tool to counter domestic despotism and colonial subjugation. This study explores the concept of the "Religion of Revolution" by inquiring into Shariati's reinterpretation of key Islamic theories such as monotheism (Tawhid/social Tawhid), prophethood, and martyrdom to place his interpretation of Islamic theology within the wider framework of anti-colonial resistance and liberation movements.