Morteza Motahhari

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Muslim scholar

Name:	Morteza Motahhari
Title:
Birth:	February 3, 1920
Death:	May 2, 1979
Main interests:	Fiqh, Kalam and philosophy

Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari (مرتضی مطهری; February 3, 1920 – May 1, 1979) was an Iranian scholar, cleric, University 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.

Motahhari also wrote several books on Islam, Iran, and historical topics. He taught philosophy at Tehran University.

"Teachers Day" in Iran is celebrated on Ordibehesht 12 (2 May), the Persian date on which Motahhari was assassinated after leaving a late meeting at the house of Yadollah Sahabi. He was assassinated by gunshot, from a member of the Furqan Militia Group[1].

Motahhari is the father in law of Iran's former secretary of National Security Council Ali Larijani. It was by Motahhari's advice that Larijani switched from Computer Science to western philosophy for graduate school.

In honor of Motahhari, a major street in Tehran (Takhte Tavoos--Peacock Throne in English) was named after him upon his death shortly after the Iranian revolution in 1979. Motahhari Street connects Sohrevardi Street and Vali Asr Street, two major streets in Tehran.