Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers

Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers

Islam and Political Participation in the Thought of Javadi Amoli: A Political Theology Perspective

Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Research Institute of Social Sciences, Research Institute of Hawzah and University (RIHU), Qom, Iran.
Abstract
Abdollah Javadi Amoli holds a prominent position in contemporary Islamic thought, having produced extensive and multifaceted works across theology and political philosophy. This study examines the relationship between Islam and political participation within his intellectual framework. Utilizing Quentin Skinner’s intentionalist-contextualist hermeneutic method, this paper posits that Javadi Amoli, situated within both traditional Islamic jurisprudence and the discourse of modern political philosophy, theorizes popular political participation as dynamic, extensive, and normative, anchored in ontological covenants and sociopolitical contracts. Critiquing strictly secular paradigms, he posits that participation extends beyond mere power struggles and partisan competition, being inherently guided by collective rationality, dynamic ijtihad, and ethical imperatives. The findings reveal that Javadi Amoli delineates two distinct yet complementary spheres: the divine domain (Amr-Allah) and public affairs (Amr al-Nas), wherein the latter affords exhaustive popular agency and systemic oversight (al-Amr bi-l-Ma‘ruf wa al-Nahy ‘an al-Munkar). Furthermore, while popular consent is indispensable for the operationalization and sustained legitimacy of religious governance, categorically precluding authoritarian coercion, rational and faith-based engagement serves as a benchmark for good governance. This participation legitimately operates across non-prescriptive socio-political domains, areas of religious permissibility (mubahat), and administrative decision-making, thereby conceptualizing political participation as an integral pillar of governance rather than a secondary formality.
Keywords
Subjects

The Holy Qur’an.
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Volume 16, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 117-139

  • Receive Date 18 August 2025
  • Revise Date 29 December 2025
  • Accept Date 14 January 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026