Ask Haviv Anything Episode 26: How Iran’s regime subverted Shia Islam - with Hussain Abdul-Hussain
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Jul 4, 2025 Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a Shia Muslim writer and analyst, sheds light on how the Iranian regime has reshaped Shia Islam. He argues that the Khomeinist ideology has shifted Arab Shia beliefs from their traditionally peaceful roots. Hussain shares personal stories from his childhood in war-torn Iraq and Lebanon, highlighting the cultural complexities and historical struggles that have defined Shia identity. He also discusses the politicization of faith and the potential for authentic practices to emerge amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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Hussain's War-Torn Childhood
- Hussain Abdul-Hussain grew up amid the Iran-Iraq War and Lebanese Civil War, personally experiencing conflict.
- He moved to the US to support liberty and democracy after diverging views on Saddam Hussein's regime.
Traditional Arab Shiism Was Pacifist
- Arab Shiism traditionally was pacifist and local, disconnected from Iranian revolutionary ideology.
- Iran's revolutionary Shiism introduced a militant, political dimension alien to Arab Shia tradition.
Arab Shia Reject Iranian Shiism
- Arab Shia see themselves as the original custodians of Shiism, predating Iranian Shia since 632 AD.
- They reject Iranian claims to lead Shiism, viewing Iranian innovations as foreign to their centuries-old tradition.