Tracing Iran’s Sacred Legacy to Dawn of Monotheism

Date: 20 August 2025 - 21:50

News ID: ۱۴۲۷۶۷

TEHAN -- In a thoughtful essay titled “The Origins of Monotheism in Iran,” Hujjat al-Islam Reza Rafiei, a respected researcher of Qur’anic and Hadith studies, presents a compelling narrative about Iran’s unique and ancient commitment to the worship of one God.
According to Rafiei, Iran is not just a land of deep religious history; it is arguably the first refuge of the faithful after the biblical flood—a place where faith was preserved and passed down through millennia.
Central to this vision is the story of Noah’s Ark, long associated with the mountains of Ararat. Rafiei contends that the region of Judi Mountain—located within the historic borders of Iran before it was ceded to Turkey under Reza Khan’s reign—holds the key to understanding this sacred legacy.
The argument rests on several points: archaeological remains believed to be from Noah’s Ark have been found in Ararat; the Torah explicitly names these mountains as the Ark’s resting place; local tradition has preserved the memory for centuries; and Iran itself is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations.
From these roots grew the observance of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, which Rafiei describes as more than a mere cultural festivity. It is a living testament to the divine intervention that cleansed the earth and heralded a new beginning for the survivors of the flood.
This celebration, he suggests, has endured for thousands of years among the descendants of those first faithful inhabitants of Azerbaijan, who established a community and a way of life grounded in monotheistic belief.
Rafiei’s reflection draws a powerful throughline from this ancient faith to the advent of Islam. When Islam was introduced to Iran, its message was embraced not as a foreign imposition but as a fulfillment of an existing spiritual tradition.
Prophet Muhammad’s respectful recognition of Persian culture and his close relationship with Salman the Persian helped foster acceptance and genuine conversion.
Unlike the brief period of Hellenistic dominance under Alexander and the Seleucids—when Iranian culture quietly resisted and eventually expelled foreign influences—Iranian society integrated Islam deeply and authentically.
The Qur’an itself reinforces this sense of continuity. Surah Al-Imran (3:19) affirms, “The religion before God is Islam,” while Surah Ash-Shura (42:13) reminds believers that the divine law was revealed progressively—from Noah through Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad.
Rafiei concludes that the Iranian people uniquely embody this unbroken chain of faith—starting from Noah’s original covenant and culminating in the final revelation brought by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).
This spiritual continuity is further symbolized in the Iranian reverence for the Prophet’s family, the Ahl al-Bayt, often likened to the “Ark of Salvation.”
Rafiei highlights the profound resonance of the Prophet’s words: “The example of my household is like Noah’s Ark; whoever boards it is saved, and whoever abandons it is drowned.”
To Iranians, these words evoke a timeless truth—they are inheritors of an ancient faith, rooted in divine guidance and preserved through generations.