Regularity and Measurements of Intelligent Activities in Shiite Political Jurisprudence

Intelligence activities are necessary for every government. However, since they may involve religiously illegitimate behaviors, they pose a challenge to an Islamic political system that is based on Sharia. This is why the issue has drawn the attention of scholars in the field of jurisprudence, particularly the issues of Islamic governance, ideal administration of the society, and efficiency of the Islamic government. The present study is conducted in terms of political jurisprudence, drawing upon the descriptive-analytical method and the methodology of ijtihad. It seeks to account for the Sharia-based legitimacy of intelligent agents in Islamic jurisprudence and the efficiency of the Islamic government in overcoming its adversaries in intelligence matters to achieve the Islamic objectives in governance. To be sure, agents involved in intelligence activities may be committed to Sharia-based, rational, or commonsensical regulations such as justice, protection of the order, maximal conformity to Sharia, conformity to collective reason, moderation, realization of religious objectives, exigencies, and protection of the lives of Muslims. Assuming that intelligence operations in the Islamic government are intended as means of overcoming the enemies and protecting the Islamic system, this research distinguishes the apparently illegitimate acts of intelligence agents into individual and governmental acts and highlights the primacy of refraining from committing anti-Sharia behaviors. Moreover, it shows that individual and governmental anti-Sharia practices are acceptable only if they fall under general jurisprudential principles and criteria, serving the ultimate purposes of Sharia.