Criticism of Western colonialism is a fundamental axis of Ayatollah Khamenei's political thought, rooted in deep Quranic foundations. Employing qualitative content analysis of his statements and writings, this article explains the Quranic bases for criticizing colonialism and the corresponding methods of confrontation. The findings reveal that the rule of Nafy Sabil — «لَنْ یَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْکَافِرِینَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِینَ سَبِیلًا» (Qur'an 4:141) — serves as the Quranic pivot of anti‑colonialism, operating through two dimensions: a negative one (rejecting all foreign domination) and a positive one (preserving independence and building internal power). Other foundational principles include “anti‑arrogance (istikbar) as a divine command,” “Islamic unity in opposition to the colonial education of division,” and a “civilizational critique of the West” via the metaphor of “modern ignorance (Jahiliyyah).” In response, His Eminence outlines six Quranic methods: enemy recognition and enlightenment (Jihad of Explanation); unity and solidarity of the Islamic Ummah (relying on «وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِیعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا»); self‑belief and internal power‑building (based on «إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا یُغَیِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ یُغَیِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ»); transformation of the humanities according to the Qur’an (citing «تِبْیَانًا لِکُلِّ شَیْءٍ»); critique of the West from a position of independence and non‑imitation (inspired by «وَلَا تَرْکَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِینَ ظَلَمُوا» and «وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ کُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِینَ»); and public insight‑building (emphasizing «عَلَىٰ بَصِیرَةٍ»). The conclusion is that Ayatollah Khamenei’s anti‑colonialist thought constitutes a “practical critical theory” which, by linking Quranic foundations and methods, offers a native and dignified model for modern Islamic civilization while providing an epistemological critique of the West.
mahdavi, M. , monazzah, M. and azimi, M. (2026). Quranic Foundations and Methods of Criticizing Western Colonialism in the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei. The Quran from Orientalists Point of View, 21(40), 313-354. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2026.23902.1480
MLA
mahdavi, M. , , monazzah, M. , and azimi, M. . "Quranic Foundations and Methods of Criticizing Western Colonialism in the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei", The Quran from Orientalists Point of View, 21, 40, 2026, 313-354. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2026.23902.1480
HARVARD
mahdavi, M., monazzah, M., azimi, M. (2026). 'Quranic Foundations and Methods of Criticizing Western Colonialism in the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei', The Quran from Orientalists Point of View, 21(40), pp. 313-354. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2026.23902.1480
CHICAGO
M. mahdavi , M. monazzah and M. azimi, "Quranic Foundations and Methods of Criticizing Western Colonialism in the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei," The Quran from Orientalists Point of View, 21 40 (2026): 313-354, doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2026.23902.1480
VANCOUVER
mahdavi, M., monazzah, M., azimi, M. Quranic Foundations and Methods of Criticizing Western Colonialism in the Thought of Ayatollah Khamenei. The Quran from Orientalists Point of View, 2026; 21(40): 313-354. doi: 10.22034/jqopv.2026.23902.1480
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