Ayatollah Morteza Motahari (An Introduction)

Ayatollah Murtaza Motahhari (مرتضی مطهری; February 3, 1920 – May 1, 1979) was an Iranian scholar, cleric, lecturer, and politician.
Motahhari is considered among the important influences on the ideologies of the Islamic Republic, and was a co-founder of Hosseiniye Ershad and the Combatant Clergy Association (Jāme'e-ye Rowhāniyat-e Mobārez). Motahhari was a disciple of Ayatollah Khomeini during the Shah's reign and formed the Council of Revolution of Iran at Khomeini's request. He was chairman of the council at the time of his assassination.

May 2 was Teachers’ Day in Iran, which coincided with the anniversary of the martyrdom of eminent philosopher Ayatollah Morteza Motahari.

Teachers have always been highly respected in Iran’s history. This shows Iranians’ interest in learning new sciences since ancient times.

Teachers are symbols of kindness, patience and associated with many positive features in Iran’s culture.

Although Iranians believe that nothing can make up for a teacher’s efforts, they honor them on this day by giving them presents and flowers.

Schools across the country organize several programs such as song recital, exhibitions, distribution of sweets and group photographs on this day.  

University students also hold special programs to honor their teachers.

Ayatollah Morteza Motahari, born in 1299 in Fariman, Khorasan Razavi province, was an Iranian philosopher, theological scholar, writer and university lecturer.

Motahari is a distinguished figure whose outstanding personality has earned him an everlasting place in the Islamic history.

He is considered among the important influences that shaped “the Islamic Republic“.

Motahari was tutored by his father before he joined Mashhad’s theological school at the age of 12.

Ayatollah Haj Agha Hossein Boroujerdi, Ayatollah Mirza Ali Agha Shirazi, Allameh Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaei and Ayatollah Imam Khomeini were among his outstanding teachers.

Motahari did his best to educate the Muslim and combatant forces about the policies of the revolution and the concept of supreme jurisprudent’s leadership. 

He was arrested several times by Savak (the intelligence agency of the now-defunct Pahlavi regime) for his revealing speeches along with 50 outstanding clerics.

Motahari played an important role in unifying two classes of students: from the universities and the theological schools. His speeches and classes were considered a threat to the ousted regime.

Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, especially in the second half of 1978 when he had very heavy responsibilities, he did not neglect the task of promulgating the revolutionary Islamic culture. 

Creating awareness among the younger generation was an important aim of Motahari and he has written many books for them, including “Dastan-e Rastan“ which received an award from UNESCO in 1965.

Motahari has also written many books on Islam, Iran and historical issues. He spent more time on giving lectures about Islam than writing books. However, after his death, some of his students compiled the notes of these lectures and published them as books. 

This educationist and symbol of resistance was martyred by the most ignorant enemies of Islam and revolution, belonging to the Forqan group, on April 30,1979.

Source: Wikipedia and http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=157683