The President of Tajikistan visited Islamic Iran to pay tribute to the late leader of this country, and on the same day, at the initiative of the only Center for Islamic Studies, which is directly subordinate to the president, a meeting was held where political Islam was decisively criticized. What message did they contain?
The Iranian authorities managed to make the most of the political benefits from the funeral ceremony of the country’s leader, Ali Khamenei, which can be characterized as the largest political achievement of the country in the war against the USA and Israel. This ceremony became not only a tool for demonstrating the power of the Islamic Republic but also contained a number of political messages.
While the world media and social networks were focused on discussing Iran’s messages to the world, or at least to politicians around the globe, including Tajikistan, the authorities of Tajikistan apparently also took advantage of this ceremony to send their message to the leadership of the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian authorities could have modestly and quietly held a memorial prayer and buried Khamenei’s body at that time. But they did not do so. Apparently, both the timing of the funeral and its duration, as well as all the details of this ceremony, were carefully planned. Most media and social networks report on the message from the Iranian authorities to the representatives of the official delegations of the countries present at the funeral through the citation and reading of verses from the Quran; however, few write about the demonstration of strength by this country and its other messages in the remaining elements of the ceremony.
After the mass and continuous presence of the people of Iran in the streets and squares for more than 100 days, the funeral ceremony attended by millions sent a message to the world, and particularly to its opponents: Iranians cannot be turned against each other. Holding the funeral ceremony on the 250th anniversary of the independence of the USA also became a challenge thrown at this country, at least for the sake of information warfare. As a result, the front pages of world media either split into two or combined the two events into one. Even American media could not refrain from covering the funeral ceremony in Iran. For example, the world’s largest news agency, Reuters, simultaneously published two main stories: one about the massive funeral procession for Khamenei in Tehran and the other about the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States and Donald Trump’s speech. The Associated Press did the same. In the list of top news on July 4, the two main stories appear first: The beginning of Khamenei’s funeral and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. In international news broadcasts, CNN also first reported on the independence celebration in the USA and then on Khamenei’s funeral. The Washington Post also did not refrain from simultaneously covering the two events.
Experts note that by holding a funeral on the day of U.S. independence, Iran also sent a message to the leadership and people of the United States. It could have contained a message such as: “We can hold funerals that are much more solemn and grand than your 250th anniversary celebration of independence.” Or the Iranians, contrasting the cultures of two significant ceremonies, want to convey a message about who will ultimately prevail. By not inviting representatives from any of the countries that have even the slightest connection to the U.S. and Israel in this war, including European states and most Gulf countries, Iran may have wanted to make it clear that there will be no compromises on this issue and that Iran will not forget it.
The most resonant tool Iran used during the ceremony to convey its message was the verses from the Quran that were recited as delegations entered the room where the coffin of the Iranian leader was located. The more intense the dispute becomes, the more confident one can be that the Iranians indeed wanted to send specific messages this way. On social media, even in the Tajik-language segment, there is increasing discussion about the verses read in the presence of delegations from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Users believe that the Saudis were accused of hostility, while the Turks were accused of cowardice.
If each recited verse contained a message, then a message was also sent to Tajikistan, although it is not yet being discussed. In the presence of the Tajik delegation, the 126th verse from Surah Al-Imran was recited:
وَمَا جَعَلَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَىٰ لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُم بِهِ ۗ وَمَا ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Translation: “Allah made this only a good tidings for you and made it so that your hearts may be comforted by it, for victory comes only from the Mighty and Wise Allah.”
We asked two Islamic scholars about this verse. Unfortunately, neither agreed to have their name mentioned in the article.
One scholar stated that “perhaps the Iranians, by reciting this verse, wanted to express gratitude to the authorities of Tajikistan for their support and solidarity. And the ‘good tidings’ may signify a promise of cooperation in the future.”
The second believes that “Iranian authorities understand that Tajikistan is under geopolitical pressure from several sides and is forced to balance its relations between several major powers. Therefore, this verse may have the following meaning:
“Do not rely on earthly powers. Victory and security come from Allah, not from the patronage of any superpower.”
On the other hand, Tajikistan has often acted very cautiously in its relations with Iran. By using this verse, Iranian authorities may have wanted to say: “Do not be afraid, let your hearts be at peace, following the right path should not cause anxiety,” noted our interlocutor.
At the same time, it seems that the authorities of Tajikistan also carried a message to the authorities of the Islamic Republic during this visit.
According to Tajik state media, on July 3, the same day that Emomali Rahmon flew to Iran to participate in the funeral of the Iranian leader, a scientific-practical conference will be held at the Islamic Institute of Tajikistan named after Imam Azam — Abu Hanifa Numon ibn Sobit, initiated by the Center for Islamic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, on the topic: “The Politicization of Islam and Its Threat to Political Security and Stability of Society.”
Previously, the authorities of Tajikistan had not been observed sending messages in this manner. Of course, there were messages, but they were more primitive and open. For example, Tajikistan had previously sent rather sharp messages to Iran, while not naming the country, replacing it with “a well-known country.” However, recently, the approach of the country’s authorities in many areas has indeed changed somewhat, and the level has increased. Therefore, it is not excluded that by holding this conference, the authorities of Tajikistan wanted to send certain messages to the leadership of the Islamic Republic. The choice of the date of the conference, its name, and topic also largely resembles the choice made by the Iranian side regarding the day of the funeral ceremony.
Such events are held very frequently in Tajikistan. This conference, as well as the date of its holding, could be called a coincidence if it were not initiated by the Center for Islamic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. The next sentence of the message also indicates that this conference contained a message:
“Representatives of ministries and departments, as well as leading scholars and experts from scientific and analytical institutions, will participate in the conference, which will consider a wide range of issues, including the concept and essence of the politicization of Islam, the historical experience of this phenomenon, the interaction of religion and politics, the influence of political Islam on political and cultural security, as well as its impact on social stability, the state, and the legal system,” the message states.
The President of Tajikistan visited the Islamic country to pay tribute to the leader of political Islam on a global level, and on the same day, a meeting was held at the only Center for Islamic Studies in Tajikistan, which is directly subordinate to the president, where political Islam was sharply criticized. What message did the authorities of Tajikistan want to send to the Islamic Republic, on one hand participating in the mourning ceremony at the highest level, and on the other hand holding this conference?
“We are ready to be friends and cooperate with you, to stand by your side even in times of war and difficulties, but under no circumstances do we accept political Islam, that is, your state system!”
Abdumannon Sheraliyev, special for Azda TV
