Understanding the Nature of Political A New Interpretation of the Theory "Islam is the Government" and Its Documentation

Among the important and prominent approaches existing concerning the relationship between religion and politics is Imam Khomeini view, which is presented with a comprehensive, jurisprudential and profound perspective. In expressing the relationship between religion and politics, the late Imam Khomeini has underscored the inseparability of the religion and government, saying: "Islam is the government."What does Imam Khomeini (ra) mean by this statement? This is the central question of the present study which presents five possibilities in response to the foregoing question. Finally, using the analytical-inferential method, it validates the claim that the theory "Islam is the government" had gone through a developmental process in the Imam's thought.There is a similar evolutionary process in his theory of legal addresses (khiṭābāt). That is to say that the like of the theory of "Islam is the government" existed in brief and undeveloped form but it was developed later step by step. Hence, "Islam is the government" is the final and evolved theory of Imam Khomeini (ra) about the relationship between Islam and government, which emphasizes the idea of "unity and sameness of Islam and government". This idea can be inferred from the verses concerning the establishment of religion e.g. verse 13 of al-Shūra, verse 66 al-Māʾida and the verses that require absolute submission to the prophets.