ABSTRACT
Fada’iyan regarded the existing understanding of Islam as being mixed with superstitions. Navvab-e Safavi wrote ‘For many years, the shining truth of Islam has been covered by political deceptions . . . . And not only ordinary Muslims but also some Islamic scholars are ignorant of it.’458 Fada’iyan were critical of the use of Islam as an excuse for complacency and inaction towards political and social vices, whereby the masses were pacified by the idea that it is the duty of the promised Imam Mahdi to come to change human life for the better and for ever. Islam was also abused by some clergy and businessmen [bazaari] for their own benefits.459 Hence, for purifying Islam, Navvab, for instance, called on religious authorities to monitor
religious ceremonies, and, in particular, those for the mourning of the Imam Hossein. Apparently, Navvab’s intention was to prevent the expression of exaggerated views about Prophet Mohammad’s Household, to whom some Shi’a attribute superhuman features.460
