Document Type : Original Article
Author
Researcher at the National Archives and Library Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Abstract
Introduction
Investigating the position of families and prominent figures as political activists in contemporary Iranian history, especially local history, is of great importance. The Banisadr Hamedani family is one of the descendants of Seyyed Saleh Majdal-ul-Ulama, and Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Mousavi is among the most important of them. The lineage of this ancient family goes back to Imam Musa Kazem (AS). Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Mousavi was one of the political-religious activists of this family who played a role in the events of the Pahlavi period, especially after Shahrivar 1320 (1941) to the early 1350s. The purpose of this article is to understand and examine this issue. No research has been conducted on this subject, the lineage and position of the Banisadr family, while it is necessary to address it in order to clarify contemporary and local history. The hypothesis of this research is that the role of this family and the person of Ayatollah Bani-Sadr in the developments has been positive. The findings show that Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Bani-Sadr, under the influence of his social and family base, played a role in the political developments of the city of Hamedan at different historical periods, including the struggles for the nationalization of the oil industry and, most importantly, the clerical movement led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Using archival sources, this article seeks to examine and analyze the position of Ayatollah Bani-Sadr's personality in the developments of contemporary history and Hamedan and tries to answer the following questions:
What is the religious-political and economic background of the Bani-Sadr family and what is their surname derived from?
What role did Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Mousavi Bani-Sadr have in the developments of contemporary history of Iran and Hamedan and why did the leftist parties work against him?
Research Method
In this article, based on newly discovered documents and family genealogies, attention has been paid to neglected cases, errors in some sources have been corrected, and the role of other members of this family has been addressed, which is new and fresh in its own way.
This research, using documentary and library sources and a descriptive-analytical method, seeks to answer the question: What was the role of the family and Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Mousavi Banisadr Hamedani in the developments of the city of Hamedan?
Discussion
Sayyid Nasrallah Mousavi Bani Sadr, son of Sayyid Saleh Majdul-Ulama, was born in 1274 AH in the village of Abdul-Momen in the Mehraban district of Hamadan province. The great-grandfather of Majdul-Ulama and the Mousavi Bani Sadr family is Sayyid Baqir, son of Sayyid Haidar, who, according to the family tree of Sayyid Baqir's ancestors, whose lineage goes back to Imam Musa Kazim (AS). For many years, they were trustees and owners of many properties and settlements in the areas between Bijar, Hamadan and Kurdistan, and they were engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, while simultaneously studying religious sciences. Sayyid Baqir had two sons, Sayyid Abu al-Qasim Sadr al-Ulama and Sayyid Saleh Majdul-Ulama, both of whom were born in the Ghazi-Qushi district of Bijar in the Kurdistan province and were educated first in Ghazi-Qushi Bijar and then in their father's estate called the village of Abdul-Momen.
Seyyed Abul-Qasim Sadr al-Ulama, the uncle of Ayatollah Nasrallah Banisadr, is the grandfather of the first branch of the Banisadr family, and Seyyed Saleh Majdal-Ulama, the father of Seyyed Nasrallah, is the grandfather of the second branch of this family, both of whom were given these titles by their father and the people.
According to the 1304 Civil Registration Law, all Iranian citizens inside and outside the country must have an identity card. Seyyed Musa Sadr al-Islam convened a meeting with the consensus of the families and consulted on the choice of a surname, and they unanimously agreed that since Sadr al-Islam's father, Seyyed Abul-Qasim, was nicknamed Sadr al-Ulama, the surname Banisadr, that is, the children of Sadr, should be chosen for this family, and from then on, all the children of Seyyed Abul-Qasim Sadr al-Ulama and the children of his brother Seyyed Saleh Majdal-Ulama called their surname Banisadr.
Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Banisadr was born in the village of Abdul-Momen, located in the Mehraban district of Hamadan province, in 1274 AH. After receiving his early education from his father, he went to school, then to Hamedan to study. During World War I, he was a student in Hamedan and witnessed the problems of the people and the famine caused by the presence of foreign forces. Seyyed Nasrallah went to Najaf to complete his education and studied there for nearly ten years. However, according to his own words, he did not stay in Najaf for two reasons; one: the climate was incompatible with his temperament, and two: fear of the authority of the authority. His return to Iran coincided with the Pahlavi dynasty. He did not support Reza Shah's policies. He taught at the Zanganeh School and the Grand Mosque of Hamedan. In terms of communicating with the people, resolving their financial and social problems, and pursuing their welfare and development demands, the house of Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Sadr al-Ulama always welcomed visitors. In 1350 AH, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and went to France for treatment, but he passed away on February 27, 1350 Bani Sadr was a serious opponent of the Tudeh Party in Hamedan. Ayatollah Banisadr played a significant role in the elections to the 14th National Assembly in Deymah 1325 and the activities of the Qavam-os-Saltaneh Democratic Party in Hamedan. In addition, Ayatollah Banisadr was very diligent in providing assistance to religious centers and schools. Following the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry in Esfand 1329 and the formation and activities of groups and organizations supporting the National Front in Hamedan, Ayatollah Banisadr supported the government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh. During the coup of Mordad 18, 1332, Ayatollah Banisadr's house in Hamedan was attacked and robbed by unknown individuals.
With the beginning of the Islamic movement of the Iranian people led by Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Banisadr, at the head of the Hamedan scholars, issued a declaration condemning the Pahlavi regime's attack on the Faiziyeh School and sent a telegram to the religious authorities and Ayatollah Khomeini, supporting the Islamic movement and its leadership, and this support continued in all aspects until his death.
Conclusion
Based on documents, family records and historical sources, the Mousavi Banu Sadr family was one of the Sadats of Al-Kabud in the Bijar region who later migrated to the Hamedan region. This family traces its lineage back to Imam Musa Kazim (AS). The Banu Sadr family is divided into two branches, the ancestor of the first branch being Seyyed Abu al-Qasim Sadr al-Ulama, whose title became the basis for the family names of his children and all his relatives. The eldest son of Seyyed Abu al-Qasim Sadr al-Ulama, named Ahmad, who inherited his father's title, was attracted to the Baha'is and promoted this sect and was nicknamed Sadr al-Sadur by Abdul Baha. However, his thoughts and ideas did not have an impact on the other members of the family and they all remained Muslims and Shiites.
Ayatollah Seyyed Nasrallah Mousavi Banu Sadr Hamedani, nicknamed Sadr al-Ulama, is one of the men of the second branch who were religious-political activists of the Pahlavi era. In addition to his landholding and development and religious activities, he also had a prominent presence in political affairs and played a role in the developments and events of the country and the Hamedan region from Shahrivar 1320 onwards, including: during World War II, the prime ministership of Qavam-os-Saltaneh, the movement to nationalize the oil industry, and the Islamic movement of the Iranian people led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Ayatollah Bani-Sadr spent the income from his properties on public welfare matters, helping the people and revolutionaries. From a religious and property perspective, he got involved with the Tudeh Party. However, in order to protect his interests, he was forced to cooperate with the Khans and landowners. Ayatollah Bani-Sadr had great influence and prestige in Hamedan. He used this characteristic to benefit the people and the fighters, and his home was a place where the residents could go to and solve their problems. From a foreign policy perspective, he wanted Iran's independence and territorial integrity, and he was an active and influential activist in all social, political, religious, cultural, and economic dimensions. He was a model of an enlightened cleric with a correct understanding of the times who acted in a timely manner. Although he was not free from self-centeredness and self-interest. He had a secret rivalry with Ayatollah Akhund Mulla Ali Masoumi Hamedani, and in general, historical judgment about him is positive.
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