Muslim Ruler and Performing Religious Rituals

Sha‘āyer (rituals) is the plural form of sha‘ira or shi‘ār; meaning an external sign or indication. The decree of performing rituals solemnly and their necessity is originated in the Quranic verse 32, Surah Hajj; for the main purpose of attending to it reminds people of God and divine religion. It is incumbent on Islamic government to give special attention to performing religious rituals with great dignity, no matter whether the primary judgement on their dignity is obligatory or recommended. There are many Quranic verses and narrations which confirm the necessity of performing rituals solemnly. Therefore, Muslim faqihs from different schools of thought admit that it is necessary for a Muslim ruler to show great respect to religious rituals. Stressing the importance of the significant obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil, the holy Quran considers this obligation as a duty of a particular group of people who naturally have considerable power, and Islamic government is a definite testimony to this group. The speech given by Imam Ali (a) at the early days of his appointment as a guardian of the people is a clear evidence for the necessity of giving great attention to divine rituals. This question is so important that most faqihs consider the principle of hajj ritual and paying homage to the Prophet by visiting his grave as a sufficient duty (wajib kifa‘ī) in spite of its being a primary judgement. Consquently, the contemporary supreme religious ruler, Imam Khomeini, confirms the idea of performing religious rituals with dignity as he states: "We have staged the revolution in order to revive Islamic rituals. ''