Weberian Insights on the Spiritual and Charismatic Leadership of Ayatullah Khamenei in Contemporary Iran

Abstract

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran gave birth to a unique model of leadership that combines religion and politics through the doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih. This article analyzes the leadership of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei using Max Weber's theory of charismatic authority, the Shia Imamiyah tradition, and Sufi ‘irfan, in order to understand how religious charisma can survive in a modern political context. The research employs a qualitative–descriptive and interpretive approach based entirely on literature analysis. The sources used include Weber’s Economy and Society (1978) as the main theoretical foundation, Shi’a theological writings on Imamah and Wilayat al-Faqih, and contemporary Sufi studies explaining ‘irfan and spiritual leadership. The unit of analysis in this study is the leadership of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the Supreme Leader of Iran, The analysis reveals that unlike Khomeini, who possessed revolutionary and personal charisma, Khamenei has developed a form of charisma that is institutionalized through state structures such as the Guardian Council and the IRGC, yet he continues to strengthen his authority through moral-spiritual legitimacy rooted in the values of simplicity, religious ethics, and ‘irfan nuances. This demonstrates that charisma does not only endure through personal figures but also through political institutionalization enriched with religious legitimacy. Thus, Khamenei's leadership represents a synthesis between spirituality and institutions, while offering global relevance as an alternative model of contemporary political legitimacy amid the authority crises faced by many modern nations.