Shia Political Thought

Ahmad Vaezi Shia Political Thought www.islamic-sources.com Shia Political Thought Ahmad Vaezi Published by Islamic Centre of England 2004 Shia Political Thought First published in the UK by Islamic Centre of England 140 Maida Vale, London W9 1QB, UK Tel: 020-7604 5500 Fax: 020-7604 4898 Email: [email protected] Homepage: www.ic-el.org ISBN: 1-904934-01-3 Copyright © 2004 Islamic Centre of England All rights reserved CONTENTS Introduction 6 Chapter One - Islam and Politics 10 What is a “Religious Government”? 10 Rejection of Islamic Government 13 The First Argument 16 Second Argument 21 Third Argument 25 Categorizing Social Alterations 27 Flexibility of the Islamic Legal System 30 Rational Management versus Juristic Management 33 Objectives of an Islamic State 36 Implementation of the Shari'a 36 To Enjoin the Good and Forbid the Evil 38 Spheres of Islamic Political Thought 48 i) Political Theology 49 ii) Political Philosophy 49 iii) Political Ethics 50 iv) Political Jurisprudence 50 Chapter Two - What is Wilayat al-Faqih? 53 The Concept of Imamate 54 Imam as “Wali” 56 The Theory of Caliphate 60 The Meaning of Wilayat al-Faqih 66 1. Wilayat al-Qaraba 66 2. Wilayat al-Qada’ 67 3. Wilayat al-Hakim 67 4. Wilayat al-Mutlaqa (The Absolute Authority) 67 4 Shia Political Thought 5. Wilayat al-Usuba 67 i) Making a Decree (Al-Ifta) 68 ii) To Judge (Al-Qada) 69 Hisbiya Affairs (Al-Umur al-Hisbiya) 69 1 - Political - Devotional (Ibady) Orders and Prayers 71 2 - Legal Punishment (Hudud) 72 3 - Islamic Taxes 72 4 - Jihad (Holy War) and Defense 72 Some Misconceptions 74 The Historical Background 78 Multiplicity in Wilayat 86 The Dominion of the Wali al-Faqih 88 Al-Wilayat al-Mutlaqa 92 i) Divine Laws (Al-Hukm as-Shari’) 93 ii) The Judge's Command (Al-Hukm al-Qadi) 94 iii) Governmental Orders (Al-Hukm al-Wilai) 94 iv) Al-Hukm al-Awaly and al-Hukm al-Sanavy 95 Wilayat al-Faqih and other Ideas of Guardianship 99 Chapter Three - Why Wilayat al-Faqih? 103 Traditional Evidences for Wilayat al-Faqih 104 A Signet Letter (Tuqih) from the Absent Imam 104 Maqbula of Umar ibn Hanzala 107 The Tradition of Abu Khadija 109 The Second Tradition: Saduqs’ Morsala. 113 The Third Tradition: The Fuqaha are the Trustees of the Prophets 114 The Fourth Tradition: The Ulema are the Rulers 114 The Fifth Tradition: Imam Hussain’s Sermon 115 The Sixth Hadith: The Fuqaha are the Fortress of Islam 116 Wilayat al-Amma as Hisbah 116 Introduction 5 The Rational Argument 119 The Characteristics of Wali al-Faqih and the Problem of ‘A‘lamiya’ 123 Ijtihad (Proficiency in Islamic Jurisprudence) 123 Justice 125 Prudence, Trustworthiness, Administrative Facilities and Courage 126 Knowledge 126 The External Justification. 129 Criticism of Guardianship 137 Chapter Four - Islam and Democracy 143 What is Democracy? 146 Democracy and Liberalism 151 Benefits of Democracy 153 Foundations of Democracy 155 Intrinsic Equality 157 Priority of the Will of the Majority over Rightness 159 Personal Autonomy 163 Limited Democracy versus Pure Democracy 168 What is the Conception of a ‘Religious Democracy’? 170 Smoothing the Path to Religious Democracy 173 Religious Democracy and its Critics 182 Religious Democracy is Paradoxical 182 Usurpation of God's Sovereignty 185 The Problem of Legal Equality 194 Reconciling Islam and Liberal Democracy 196 Final Word 209 Bibliography 212 6 Shia Political Thought Introduction Contemporary discourse concerning the political role and application of Islam is deeply influenced by the west, as it is largely considered as either a positive or negative reaction to the western way of life. Confronted by the emerging technical and military superiority, economic achievements and apparent affluence of western society, Muslims have been forced to address the challenge of modernity and the various dimensions that accompany it. As a result, the need to review and redefine the Islamic position has become necessary, a discussion which has established two main streams of political thought amongst Muslim scholars and intellectuals. Firstly, there are those who advocate a “liberal” interpretation of Islam and strive to demonstrate its compatibility with the underlying values of modernism and, more precisely, the western political system. Supporters of this stream see their interests and objectives in secular terms; many adopt ideologies such as nationalism, pan-Arabism, socialism and Marxism, frequently disconnecting themselves from classical Islamic political thought. The second stream of thought, often categorised as revivalism or fundamentalism, embody an extreme reaction to the spread of western ideas throughout the Muslim world. Its followers totally reject parliamentary liberalism, amongst other western ideologies, and advocate the comprehensive adoption of the sources of divine revelation as a means to end the West’s hegemony, whilst overcoming present difficulties faced by Muslim societies. The reflexive nature of these two streams offers little beyond a positive or negative reaction to modernism and the western Introduction 7 way of life (specifically in the political field). Followers of the former adopt a secular approach; providing an optimistic analysis of western political values, either endorsing them or assuming them as Islamic concepts. In short, this attitude provides no potential for the development or evolution of Islamic political heritage. On the other hand, despite strong aspirations to establish a pure Islamic society and government, revivalism and fundamentalism fail to provide a complete or unambiguous model for this ideal society. Many revivalists have attempted to reform the political theory of traditional Sunni jurist’s (i.e. the theory of Khilafah or Caliphate) whilst other, more excessive versions of fundamentalism (such as the Taliban movement) present an aggressive, oppressive and backward image of the Islamic model. Born amidst shallow and ultimately reactionary Islamic political ideologies, the theory of “Wilayat al-Faqih” constituted an entirely new direction and mode of thinking. This conception of Islamic governance, formally embodied in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is distinguished by its close connection to Shia political doctrine and the successful amalgamation of shari’a and democracy. It composes the authority of an Islamic legal system, the political guardianship of a just and capable Mujtahid (jurist) and the democratic role of the people in the distribution of political power. Within the framework of the traditional Shi’a doctrine of Imamat, this political doctrine reconciles the authority of religion and the authority of the people. There are many misunderstandings concerning the theory of Wilayat al-faqih, its historical background and political justification, the role of people and what separates it from 8 Shia Political Thought other Islamic political theories (such as that of the Caliphate). The primary function of this book is to clarify these different dimensions and dispel any ambiguities surrounding this version of the Islamic state. The wilayat al-faqih (guardianship of the scholars) is a religious model of government. It is therefore essential to discuss why we are in need of a ‘religious state’ and to take full account of the implications and justifications of this model in the contemporary world. Chapter one addresses the definition of a ‘religious government’ and explores the relationship between Islam and politics. It also assesses the principal arguments presented by various Muslim thinkers, particularly those who are opposed to the concept of an Islamic government. Chapter two intends to clarify the doctrine of wilayat al- faqih, its historical background, what distinguishes it from other political theories, and its connection to the traditional religious authority of the Islamic jurists (Marja’a Taqleed), to whom ordinary Shia refer to and whose decrees they follow on religious affairs. All scholars and jurists accept that the Marja’a has a duty to act as vicegerent on behalf of the absent, infallible Imam. However, it is the scope of authority in this vicegerency that is contentious. The second chapter aims to expound and develop this discussion, thereby explicating the role of a jurist in the model of wilayat al-faqih. As a political theory of state, wilayat al-faqih maintains the collective vicegerency of the faqih adil (a just or trustworthy jurist), which is the maximum scope of his authority. The third chapter will discuss the justifications of this theory and expound some of the traditional evidence provided by high- ranking jurists who support the doctrine of wilayat al-faqih. Introduction 9 Liberal democracy remains the prevalent political theory of our time. The final chapter of this book will deal with the dichotomy that arises between the concept of Islamic democracy, embodied in the theory of wilayat al-faqih, and the liberal interpretation of the democratic system, which exists in the majority of western countries today. It is my hope that these four chapters will provide the reader with a comprehensive outline of Shia political thought in general, and the modern incarnation of this political thought, which is embodied in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular. At the end I would like to thank Dr: Seyyed Muhammad Marandi who encouraged me for writing the book and kindly undertook the final editing. I am grateful to Eskandar Khalili for typing and editing the manuscript of chapters three and four. Thanks also to Yasmin Merchant and Jondab who typed chapters one and two. I am grateful to all my friends and colleagues in Islamic center of England especially Shaikh Muhsen Araki and Shaikh Hamid Hadji Haidar for encouragement and offering helpful advice. Ahmad Vaezi Cambridge University February 2004 Chapter One Islam and Politics What is a “Religious Government”? The influence of religion upon politics is not a phenomenon that is confined solely to the Islamic world. However, it is impossible for any political theorist to ignore the role of Islam in the public lives of Muslims.

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