The Theory of the Guardianship of the Jurisprudent in the Political Thought of Ayatollāh Sayyed ʻAli Ṭabāṭabāī Known as Sāhib Riāḍ

The present research aims to explore the theory of the guardianship of the jurisprudent in the political thought of AyatollÁh Sayyed ÝAli ÓabÁÔabÁī. The research method is descriptive-analytic and is chiefly based on the documentation of the two books “RiÁḍ al-MasÁÞil ” and “SharÎ MukhtaÒar al-NÁfiÝ”. The theory of the guardianship of the jurisprudent, the rule of the jurisprudent, jurisdiction of the jurisprudent, ideal and non-ideal forms of government in the political thought of the SÁhib RiÁÃ, are the key subjects of discussion in this research work. The findings show that the idea of government is essential in the political thought of Sayyed ÝAli ÓabÁÔabÁī. He takes government to be of two forms: government by tyranny and government by just ruler. The government by just ruler is the ideal form of government headed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them). By contrast, there is government of tyranny with which people are strongly prohibited to interact. According to Seyyed ÝAli ÓabÁÔabÁī, in periods of Occultation, a competent jurisprudent is vested with authority and the relationship between religion and government is essential. The enforcement of the precepts or injunctions rests with the rule of a Muslim jurisprudent. Accordingly, Sayyed ÝAli ÓabÁÔabÁī does not admit to confer the affairs of society to a government of tyranny. On the other hand, he maintains that the duties and responsibilities to the Islamic community in periods of Occultation should not be abdicated. Therefore, from the viewpoint of Seyyed ÝAli ÓabÁÔabÁī, the jurisdiction of the jurisprudent guardian is not only extensive but also as identical with the jurisdiction of the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them).