Ali Shariati Mazinani was an Iranian revolutionary and sociologist who specialized in the sociology of religion. Born on November 23, 1933, in Kahak, a village in Mazinan, a suburb of Sabzevar in northeastern Iran, Shariati emerged as one of the most influential Iranian intellectuals of the 20th century.

Shariati is often referred to as the "ideologue of the Islamic Revolution" due to his profound impact on the revolutionary thought in Iran, even though his ideas did not ultimately form the basis of the Islamic Republic. He developed a unique approach to Shi'ism, interpreting it in a revolutionary manner that encouraged global revolution and promised salvation after death.

His interpretation, which he termed "Red Shi'ism," stood in contrast to the clerical-dominated, unrevolutionary "Black Shi'ism" or Safavid Shi'ism. Shariati's revolutionary ideas continue to influence thinkers and activists worldwide.