Imam Khomeini's Innovations in the Foundations of Welayate Faqih Theory

The introduction of Islamic Ruling theory based on welayate faqih [ruling of jurisprudents] indicates Imam Khomeini's profound understanding of historical lineage of his ideas on one hand and perfect knowledge about circumstances of his time and location on the other. Introduction of welayate faqih in the face of serious challenges first; challenge of welayate faqih with necessities of the modern age which Imam Khomeini designed the Islamic republic and the other one the historical challenge of restricted jurisprudents' authority for "hasbe" [social and legal affairs] during the twelfth Imam's (PBUH) occultation as the internal challenge of Islamic ruling which Imam Khomeini makes a fresh start in Islam's and Shiite's political thought by presenting the absolute authority for welayate faqih.Transition from reform-oriented political thought in the past to revolutionary thought is among the unique characteristics in Imam Khomeini's political thought. Another level of novelty in Imam Khomeini's thought in welayate faqih theory is inclined toward the quality of ijtihad [deduction of Islamic laws from Quran and traditions] and basics of reasoning for the issue of faqih's welayat during the occultation of infallibles, the method to enter the discussion, the process of how Imam reasons is outstanding and innovative and suitable for contemplation and concentration. It can be surely confessed that in the history of Shiite it is the most native political thought to form a political system which has been presented in the form of an Islamic ruling based on welayate faqih principle.