Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Authors

• Maryam Sadat Seyedkarimi ¹
• Yahya Bouzarinejad ²

¹ Tehran university

² Tehran university, Tehran. Iran

Abstract

In the 1980s, the scope and limits of state intervention in Iran’s economy became the subject of significant dispute between two divergent interpretations of Imam Khomeini’s theory of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist). Prior to the revolution, Shia jurisprudence adopted an individual-centered approach that respected private property rights and restricted government involvement to the framework of established jurisprudential rules, such as the principle of taslit (dominion over property). In contrast, Imam Khomeini and some of his followers, notably Ayatollah Beheshti, advanced a much broader reading under the framework of “governmental jurisprudence.” They attributed extensive authority to the Wali al-Faqih, prioritizing the maslahat (public interest) of the Islamic system and the preservation of the revolution over rigid adherence to traditional jurisprudential laws. Accordingly, the Wali al-Faqih is empowered to limit or alter legitimate private property rights for the higher interests of the system. This theoretical foundation legitimized and philosophically underpinned expansive state intervention in the economy, especially under extraordinary conditions such as war. Employing a documental and library research methodology, this study draws on jurisprudential sources, historical documents, and jurists’ opinions, applying content analysis to examine the impact of the theory of absolute Velayat-e Faqih on economic policies. The findings highlight the central role of maslahat in prioritizing public welfare and regime preservation above traditional jurisprudential constraints, resulting in the moderation of previous restrictive legal views. Moreover, tensions between jurists and economic experts regarding the extent of state economic involvement were addressed by invoking the powers of the Wali al-Faqih and the key function of maslahat. Overall, the theory of absolute Velayat-e Faqih provided the primary legitimacy for expanded state intervention in the economy, particularly during the first half of the decade.

Keywords

• Velayat-e Faqih
• Imam Khomeini
• principle of taslit
• governmental jurisprudence
• state intervention in the economy
• 1980s Iran

Main Subjects

• Rereading and interpreting the ideas of leading Muslim thinkers