Rereading and interpreting the ideas of leading Muslim thinkers
Akbar Ashrafi
Abstract
The valayat-e faqih theory holds significant political weight as a cornerstone of Imam Khomeini's ideology concerning the governance of Islamic society during Imam Masoom's (AS) absence. Furthermore, he stands as the sole jurist who successfully established an Islamic government grounded in this theory, ...
Read More
The valayat-e faqih theory holds significant political weight as a cornerstone of Imam Khomeini's ideology concerning the governance of Islamic society during Imam Masoom's (AS) absence. Furthermore, he stands as the sole jurist who successfully established an Islamic government grounded in this theory, furnishing it with an impartial appearance, thus providing the initial instance of jurist dominion over society. The primary inquiry of this article pertains to whether Imam Khomeini's political ideology underwent any transformation over the extensive period spanning from the 1950s to the Islamic Revolution and his tenure as the leader of the Islamic Republic. To answer this question, the content of Imam Khomeini's two books “Keshf Asrar” and “Valayat–e Faqih” has been scrutinized and analyzed using the descriptive-analytical method. The research hypothesis posits that in both of the aforementioned books, Imam Khomeini formulated the theory of velayat-e faqih. Furthermore, in both texts, he affirms imprtial Mujtahid as the complete successor of Imam Masoom during the era of occultation. Hence, despite the fact that Imam Khomeini articulated distinct facets of his political philosophy at various junctures in accordance with the circumstances of the time and location—two fundamental components of ijtihad, in his estimation—the structure of his political philosophy has remained unchanged since the 1950s until his demise. The conceptual underpinning that drives Imam Khomeini's ideas in both volumes is the Shi'ite perspective on the proper conduct of adherents in the presence of an oppressive monarch. The foundational tenet of this school is the rejection of collaboration with an oppressive sovereign, barring specific circumstances that authorize such cooperation. This foundation can elucidate the political ideology and conduct of Imam Khomeini during his various political eras, including the intensity and feebleness of his opposition to the Pahlavi regime.
