State in the Era of Occultation: the Perspective of the Shi‛ite Theology and Fiqh

For the Shi‛a, the era of occultation, when no infallible Imam is present in society, is considered as an era of loss and defectiveness. In such an era, the state and its legitimacy are important issues to be addressed. Shi‛ite theology and fiqh have extensively dealt with this issue. This article examines the view put forward by the advocates of velayat-e faqih, that is, the political authority of a leading religious scholar, in the era of occultation.