Author/Authors :
Marandi, Mohammad Reza Department of Political Jurisprudence - Shahid Beheshti University - Tehran, IRAN
Abstract :
The government and guardianship (Wilaya) have long been one of the most
fundamental human societies issues. Prosperity, failure, dignity, and degradation of any
society are directly affected by the power presiding over it. Therefore, universities and
educational centers have long put the research, clarification, and the teaching of
governing theories, principles, and sub-principles in their academic perspective. Both
Shias and Sunnis accept guardianship and governance as a principle to a functioning
society while disagreeing on the Islamic ruler's qualifying conditions. When theorizing
the jurist's control (Wilaya of Faqih), Shia scholars solely assume their take on Islam for
granted, almost irrespective of the Sunni perspective. Therefore, people may rightfully
ask: ‘what are the Sunnis scholarly and jurisprudential stance on the Islamic jurist's
guardianship?’ ‘Is this specific to the Shia world and limited to Shia Jurisprudential
(Fiqh) theorizations or Sunnis supporting it?’ What are the privative and affirmative
Sunni views for jurisprudence (Fiqaha) as a qualifying condition for the Islamic ruler?’
and ‘what are these views based?’ ‘What traits and requirements are necessary for the
Islamic ruler from the Sunni scholarly perspective and whether or not it is possible to
deduce the Islamic jurist's guardianship, as an exigent Islamic issue, from the Sunnirecognized
Hadiths?’ These are questions to which this article will seek to provide
answers from the viewpoint of political jurisprudence.
Keywords :
Imamate , Islamic Ruler , Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist , Political Jurisprudence , Sunni