Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah
Definition
Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah (Arabic: حزب الدعوة الإسلامية, Turkish: İslamî Davet Partisi) - Also known as the Islamic Call Party, Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah is an influential Shia activist group formed in 1958-1959 in Iraq. The party was established by Shia ulama (religious scholars) with the primary objectives of advocating for social justice and founding an Islamic state.
Etymology
- Hizb (Arabic: حزب) translates to “party” or “group.”
- al-Dawah (Arabic: الدعوة) signifies “the call” or “invitation,” typically to faith.
- al-Islamiyyah (Arabic: الإسلامية) pertains to “Islamic.”
Origins and Foundation
Formed during a period of intense political and social upheaval in Iraq, Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah was inspired largely by the works of prominent Shia scholars who were critical of both the capitalist and communist socio-political models.
Intellectual Foundations
Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, a leading intellectual inspiration for the group, critiqued Western paradigms of capitalism and communism, advocating instead for an Islamic alternative rooted in tawhid, the concept of monotheism in Islam. Tawhid served as a foundational principle for the party’s approach to modern politics, economics, and philosophy.
Contributions and Activities
Throughout the late 1970s, Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah emerged as the most prominent Shia activist movement in Iraq. The party made substantial intellectual and conceptual contributions that spurred the modern Islamic revival, laying the groundwork for contemporary Islamist thought.
Repression and Challenges
The party came under severe repression from Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1980, primarily due to concerns about its suspected Iranian influence and its explicit opposition to the government. Many members faced persecution, including deportations, torture, imprisonment, and executions. In a tragic turn of events, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr himself was executed in 1980.
Books for Further Studies
- “The Shi’is of Iraq” by Yitzhak Nakash
- “The Doctrine of Terror: Faith and Ideology in the Middle East” by Mahboob Illahi
- “Shi’i Scholars of Nineteenth-Century Iraq: The ‘Ulama’ of Najaf and Karbala’” by Meir Litvak
- “Islamic Thought in the Twentieth Century” edited by Suha Taji-Farouki and Basheer M. Nafi
Takeaways and Conclusion
Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah stands as a testament to the influential role of Islamic thought in modern political movements. Rooted in Shia theology and driven by a vision for social justice and an Islamic state, the party played an essential role in shaping contemporary Islamist discourse. Despite facing brutal repression, the legacy and intellectual contributions of Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah continue to resonate within Islamic political thought.
Conclusion
Hizb al-Dawah al-Islamiyyah serves as an enduring example of how religious faith and intellectual rigor can converge to formulate comprehensive socio-political ideologies. The party’s alignment with the principle of tawhid underscores the significant influence of core Islamic tenets in modern activism and political theory.
