Information AboutGuardianship Of The Jurists (doctrine) |
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:''For other uses, see Waliyat Al-faqih . Guardianship of the Jurisprudents or '''Trusteeship of the Jurisconsults''' ( Twelver doctrine regarding Islamic leadership DEFINITION According to it, those most knowledgeable about Islamic law ( Shari'ah ) should assume a guiding or leading political role in society. ''Wilayat'' conveys several intricate meanings which are deeply tied to their history. Morphologically, it is derived from the Arabic ''wilaya'' the verbal noun of ''waliyan'': to be near and to have power over something. Technically, ''wilyat'' means rule, supremacy or sovereignty. In another sense, ''wilayat'' means friendship, loyalty, or guardianship.Ahmad Moussavi, ''The Theory of Vilayat-i Faqih'' HISTORY The modern political interpretation of the doctrine primarily originates from the book '' Waliyat Al-faqih '' by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , where he sets out his theories concerning the role of the clergy in government and society. It was under this doctrine that Khomeini claimed supreme authority of the nation as Supreme Leader . However, he did not originate the doctrine itself. The concept of the jurist's authority dates back to the formation of the ''Usuli'' school of thought within Shia'ism, which asserted the necessity of juristic authority in areas such as derivation of religious law, arbitration in disputes between members of the community and management of social welfare during the absence of the Imam íof the age. And thus it constitutes the basis for the concept of ''marji'iyya'' in Shi'a Islam. Therefore, the area of dispute is not the authority of the jurist, rather it is the scope of this authority; for example whether the jurist must take a leadership role or an advisory role, and this is where a number of scholars have differed. CRITICISM The doctrine was not endorsed by the then-leading Shi'a '' Marja-e-taqleed '' ("source of imitation" or respected religious leader) Grand Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei or his student Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani , both of Iraq. However, while Khu'i and Sistani have not voiced their support for its implementation, neither have they openly rejected it. Sistani has often been identified with the Quietist school of thought, which seeks to keep religion out of the political sphere, despite his indirect but decisive role in most major Iraqi political decisions. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39853-2005Jan26_3.html . He endorses the doctrine, but says that rulings on general affairs linked to the social order are subject to conditions, including the acceptability or popularity of the ruling among the majority of Muslims.[http://www.sistani.org/html/eng/main/index.php?page=4&lang=eng&part=4] The doctrine has been challenged by Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri , who was subsequently denounced by Ayatollah Khomeini in 1988. The West has always been critical towards the concept of Wilayat al-Faqih; they see it as a system opposed to Capitalism and Communism. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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