The Gentle Scholar of Qum

Turbaned, gray-bearded and bespectacled Ayatullah Sharietmadari, 76, looks like anything but a revolutionary. He has a kindly, gentle manner. A revered scholar, he spends most of his days sitting on the floor of his bone-bare home in Qum, discussing the subtleties of Islamic thought with theological students who come to him from all over the Muslim world. His name is less a symbol of political resistance than that of Ayatullah Khomeini, 80, who has been in exile since 1963 and now lives in Iraq. But among those mullahs still inside Iran, Sharietmadari is the acknowledged leader of his nation's conservative forces, and the man who personifies the greatest challenge that the Shah has faced in a generation.

The old teacher possesses a humility and simplicity that contrast dramatically with the haughty demeanor of the Shah. "Here there is no professor-student relationship," says a pupil. "What we have is dialogue. We sit as equals with him, staying until we have mastered a series of books on Islam. It is age, learning and holiness that distinguish him from the rest of us." But Sharietmadari is also tough and politically canny. He opposes the regime for many reasons, including its record of torture, censorship and bribery. Despite his public modesty, he displays total confidence about his status among his 32 million Shi'ite Muslim followers.

After a student was killed in his house by paratroopers earlier this year, Sharietmadari said calmly: "In the eyes of the nation, this incident was enough to cause a revolution. People came to me asking for the order to make a revolution, but I advised them to remain quiet."

When TIME Correspondent Dean Brelis visited him last week, Sharietmadari spoke of his hatred of terrorism and strongly condemned the burning of an Abadan moviehouse last month in which 377 people perished. "I am absolutely against bloodshed," he said. "I have advised anyone who will listen that we should make our grievances known, but not with bloodshed, and I believe we will be heard. My only demand is enforcement of the constitution. We would like freedom of expression and we want a government of the people by the people. That has been our message." Among his requests: the appointment, as called for by the constitution, of a five-mullah watchdog committee in parliament.

Asked if he foresees any danger of a Communist takeover, Sharietmadari said: "I am afraid that if the situation worsens, and it could, a foreign power will interfere. If the government would heed our warning, there would be no danger of Communism. If it does not, then I am afraid it will be the Communists' gain."

As always, Sharietmadari refused to criticize the Shah openly. When a reporter asked him recently whether he advocated the removal of the Shah, Sharietmadari said crisply: "Withdraw that question."

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