Social Order and Societal Security in Farabiand Imam Khomeini’s Thinking

Social order and societal security are the rudiments of social life. The stability and change (for better) in every society is bound up with social order and societal security. Farabi, the first Muslim thinker and political philosopher, reflected on the position of ruler, in his era, and the role he took in the stability and order of society. He believes that the role of a ruler in a utopian society, which abounds with knowledge and wisdom, is to provide basic security and order. While he emphasized the cooperation and coordination between members of a society, he placed a premium on the hierarchical social structure and its preservation for the sake of institutionalization of security and order. Imam Khomeini, one of contemporary Muslim thinkers and the founder of the Islamic Revolution, highlighted security and order in an Islamic society. Imam, like Farabi, contemplated the ontology of politics as wells as societal security and social order and stressed the spiritual aspect of security and order, apart from their materialistic aspects. He believed that the political objective of security and order along with their realization in the society is to provide real security, tranquility and heavenly bliss. Contrary to Farabi, Imam thought that societal security and social order possess abstract and concrete sides. Regarding the social and political events during his life, Imam thought, in addition to the prominent features of the ruler (Vali Faqih) and government, the public support of a government and the cooperation between the people and the government as well as social justice variables play crucial rules in safeguarding the stability and preservation of social order.