An Analysis of the Role of Political Power in Shariah Implementation from a Jurisprudential Perspective

In Islamic political thought, the implementation of Sharīah in public and social spheres has been explored through two approaches: extra-religious and intra-religious. The extra-religious approach examines it within the framework of political philosophy, emphasizing government goals and the welfare of all citizens. The intra-religious approach investigates Sharīah implementation through jurisprudence and the methodology of ijtihād. Within Islamic jurisprudence, the institution of political power is commonly recognized as responsible for administering, overseeing, and policy-making, thus serving as the guardian of Sharīah implementation. Given the contemporary focus on Sharīah implementation by various Shia and Sunni groups and organizations, the article addresses the question of the appropriate institutional structure responsible for implementing Sharīah. The article argues that, particularly in Sunni jurisprudence, there is a lack of a systematic approach or program for Sharīah implementation, and political jurisprudence has not been directed towards a specific political structure. The research findings reveal theoretical ambiguities and challenges regarding the responsibility of implementing Sharīah, which have led to the emergence of various theories and political structures in practice.