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See also: Islamic leadership and Ja'fari jurisprudence

Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (Arabic: Waliyat al-Faqih; Persian: ولایت فقیه, Velayat-e Faqih) is a concept in Shi'a Islam which holds that Islam gives faqih (Islamic jurists) custodianship or guardianship over those in need of it. While this idea is accepted by Ulema among Ja'fari jurisprudence (fiqh of Twelvers) there is disagreement over how encompassing custodianship should be. One interpretation is limited Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists, holding that guardianship should be limited to religious endowments (اوقاف) (Owaqaf) ^[1] judicial matters, to "Owghaf" (religious welfare).^[2] Another -- "absolute (مطلقه) guardianship of the Islamic Jurists" -- holds that Guardianship should include all issues for which Prophet of Islam and Shi'a Imam had responsibility, including governance of the country. The use of the concept of "absolute guardianship of the Islamic Jurists" is said to be in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where a faqih, or Vali-ye faqih (guardian jurist), serves as the Supreme Leader of the government^{[3][not in citation given]} in accordance with the Iranian constitution. In the context of Iran the concept is often referred to as "rule by the jurisprudent," or "rule of the Islamic jurist". The Caliphate (Arabic خلافة) is the theoretical federal government that would govern the Islamic world under Islamic law, ruled by a Caliph as head of state. ... Christian anarchism is the belief that the only source of authority to which Christians are ultimately answerable is God, embodied in the teachings of Jesus. ... Clerical fascism is an ideological construct that combines the political and economic doctrines of fascism with theology or religious tradition. ... Constitutional theocracy is a form of government in which within the context of a modern democracy a particular religion is granted a central role in the legal and political system. ... Islam Hadhari (Arabic الإسلام الحضاري) or Civilizational Islam is a theory of government based on the principles of Islam as derived from the Quran. ... There are two main types that people may term Islamic democracy: A democratic state where the majority of the population are Muslim, or which attempts to reconcile Islam with a secular, democratic state. ... An Islamic republic in its modern context has come to mean several different things, some contradictory to others. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam, or Shi‘ism (Arabic ) is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith. ... A Faqih is an expert in fiqh, or, Islamic jurisprudence. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... Ulema (, translit: , singular: , translit: , scholar) (Islamic clergy) refers to the educated class of Muslim scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ... Jafari school of thought, Jafari jurisprudence or Jafari Fiqh is the name of the jurisprudence of the Shia Twelvers Muslims, derived from the name of Jafar al-Sadiq, the 6th Shia Imam. ... Twelvers ( Ithnāˤashariyyah) are those Shiˤa Muslims who believe there were twelve Imāms, as distinct from Ismaili & Zaidi Shiite Muslims, who believe in a different number of Imams or in a different path of succession. ... The Quran identifies a number of men as prophets of Islam. ... The Shia Imam is considered by the Shia sect of Islam to be the rightful successor to Muhammad, and is similar to the Caliph in Sunni Islam only with regards to the aspect of political leadership. ... Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. ...

Theory of Velayat Faqih

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 (see Wali).^[4] A wilaya is an administrative subdivision of several countries, including Algeria, Morocco, Sudan, and Oman. ... Wali (Arabic ولي, plural Awliya أولياء, Persian/Turkish pronunciation Vali), is an Arabic word, meaning protector or guardian (most literally etymologically near one), also adopted in various other Islamic cultures. ...

The doctrinal basis of Velayat Faqih comes at least in part from the hadith where the Prophet Muhammad is reputed to have said "The fuqaha are the trustees of the prophets ...".[4]

There is a wide spectrum of ideas about Wilayat-Faqih among Jafari scholars ranging from guardian-less activities (الامور الحسبیه) in Islamic society, such as unattended children, to absolute authority (الولایه المطلقه) in all public matters.

Two types of Wilayah can be understood. The first type of Wilayah is mentioned in various chapters of Fiqh of Shia. It discusses Wilayah over the dead and Wilayah over others in need of guardianship, such as insane (سفيه), absentee (غائب), poor (فقير), etc. For example verse 33 of Sora 17 ^[5] refers to authority of heir of oppressed slain. This type of Wilayah can not be applied to a society because none of mentioned characteristics apply to human society.

The second type of Wilayah which appears in principles of faith and kalam discusses about Wilayah over sagacious and wise people. The verse 55 of Sora 5 ^[6] implies the second type of Wilayah in Quran. The guardianship of jurisprudance can be underestood from this second type of Wilayah only. Believing Wilayat-Faqih is not the matter of following a marja but should be underestood by reason and needs intellectual reason. This will guide us toward the concept of Wilayah of Fiqh or guardianship of jurisprudence which is essence of Wilayah of Faqih Kalam (علم الكلم)is one of the religious sciences of Islam. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Marja (Arabic/Persian: مرجع), also appearing as Marja Taqlid or Marja Dini (Arabic/Persian: مرجع تقليد / مرجع ديني), literally means Source of Emulation or Religious Reference. It is the label provided to Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed...

Limited guardianship of the Islamic Jurists

Traditionally Shi'a jurists have tended to this interpretation and leave secular power for Shi'a kings which is called "Sultan" and they should defend the territory against non-Shias.

For example, according to Iranian scholar Ervand Abrahamian, in centuries of debate among Shi'a scholars, none have

"ever explicitly contended that monarchies per se were illegitimate or that the senior clergy had the authority to control the state."

Most scholars viewed the clergy's main responsibilities (i.e. their guardianship or velayat-e faqih) as being:

• to study the law based on the Koran, the Prophet's traditions, and the teachings of the Twelve Imams. They were also
• to use reason
• to update these laws;
• issue pronouncements on new problems;
• adjudicate in legal disputes; and
• distribute the khoms contributions to worthy widows, orphans, seminary students, and indigent male descendants of the Prophet. ^[7]

According to one of the leading Ayatullahs, Sayyid Ali Husaini al-Sistani, Velayat Faqih Ayatollah (Arabic: آية الله; Persian: آيت‌الله) is a high title given to major Shia clergymen. ... His Hounarable Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani (Arabic: السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني Persian: سید علی حسینی سیستانی), born approximately August 4, 1930, is a Grand Ayatollah, a Shia marja and currently an important person in relation to the occupation of Iraq. ...

"means every jurisprudent (Faqih) has wilayah (guardianship) over non-litigious affairs. Non-litigious affairs are technically called `al-omour al-hesbiah`. As for general affairs with which social order is linked, wilayah of a Faqih and enforcement of wilayah depend on certain conditions one of which is popularity of acceptability of Faqih among majority of momeneen." ^[8]

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has often been identified with the quietist school of thought, which seeks to keep religion out of the political sphere until the return of the Imam of the Age, despite his indirect but decisive role in most major Iraqi political decisions. [5] [6]. Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani (Arabic: السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني Persian: سید علی حسینی سیستان&#1740... Quietism is a term with multiple meanings and definitions. ...

Absolute guardianship of Islamic Jurists

Supporters of absolute guardianship cite verse 62 of sora 24 ^[9] and believe that collective affairs (امر جامع) are under Wilayah of Faqih at most. Those scholars who believe in necessity of establishing Islamic state say that within the boundary of public affairs the Wilayah must be absolute, otherwise the state can not govern the country. See religious democracy. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

The most popular and influential advocate of the idea of the absolute guardianship of the jurist was the Ayatollah Khomeini who exponded on it in his book Hokumat-e Islami: Valiyat-e faqih (Islamic Government: Guardianship of the Jurist) In fact he represented a theory of state for twelvers during the Occultation of Imam. According to it, those most knowledgeable about Islamic law (Shari'ah) should assume a guiding or leading political role in society. Ayatollah Khomeini founded the first modern Islamic republic Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini (آیت‌الله روح‌الله خمینی in Persian) (May 17, 1900 – June 3, 1989) was an Iranian Shia cleric and the political... Waliyat al-faqih, (more commonly known as Hokumat-e Islami or Islamic Government in English), is a book by the Iranian Shia Muslim cleric and revolutionary Ayatollah Khomeini, first published in 1970, and probably the most influential document written in modern times in support of theocratic rule. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A form of government is a colloquial term that refers to the set of political institutions by which a state is organized in order to exert its powers over a political community. ... Twelvers ( Ithnāˤashariyyah) are those Shiˤa Muslims who believe there were twelve Imāms, as distinct from Ismaili & Zaidi Shiite Muslims, who believe in a different number of Imams or in a different path of succession. ... This article is about the Shia concept, for the more general Islamic term, see Imam. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ...

History

"Limited Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist" has been known since Sheikh Mofid, When Ijtihad among Shi'a emerged in 10th CE (4AH). On the basis of this jurists have judged and take Khoms. Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Numan al-Ukbari al-Baghdadi known as al-Shaykh al-Mufid and Ibn al-Muallim for his expertise in philosophical theology (~948-1022 CE) was an eminent Twelver Shiite theologian. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Absolute Velayat-e faqih was probably first introduced in the Fiqh of Jafari in the famous text book Javaher-al-Kalem (جواهر الکلم). Later, Ayatollah Molla Mohammad Mahdee Naraqi[7] of Iran published a paper advocating a modest level of political actions for Islamic leaders — limited velayat-e-faqih. Ayatollah redirects here. ... Mullahs in the court of a Qajar monarch, Iran. ...

By the time of Iranian Constitutional Revolution (انقلاب مشروطه), Ayatollah Sheikh Fazlollah Nouri customized this theory to match with Iranian Majles of National Council, which was removed when he was executed by revolutionists. Nevertheless, an extensive "guardianship" was given to clerics. (see: Iranian Constitution of 1906) The Iranian Constitutional Revolution (also Persian Constitutional Revolution and Constitutional Revolution of Iran) took place between 1905 and 1911. ... The Iran Constitution of 1906[1] was Persias and later Irans first constitution that resulted from the Persian Constitutional Revolution after more than 5000 years of recorded history. ...

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had originally supported a limited interpretation of Velayat-e faqih in his first political statements: Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Mosavi Khomeini ( ) (Persian: روح الله موسوی خمینی RÅ«ollāh MÅ«savÄ« KhomeynÄ« (May 17, 1900[1] – June 3, 1989) was a Shi`i Muslim cleric and marja (religious authority), and the political leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah...

We do not say that government must be in the hands of the faqih ^[10]

and asserting that the practical

power of the mujtaheds excludes the government and includes only simple matters such as legal rulings, religious judgments, and intervention to protect the property of minors and the weak. Even when rulers are oppressive and against the people, they [the mujtaheds] will not try to destroy the rulers. ^[11]

He later changed his views and in 1970 gave a series of lectures that became a book Hokumat-e Islami: Valiyat-e faqih arguing that monarchy was unIslamic. In a true Islamic state those holding government posts should have knowledge of Sharia, and the country's ruler should be a faqih[11] who "surpasses all others in knowledge" of Islamic law and justice ^[12](p.59) -- known as a marja` -- as well as having intelligence and administrative ability. Waliyat al-faqih, (more commonly known as Hokumat-e Islami or Islamic Government in English), is a book by the Iranian Shia Muslim cleric and revolutionary Ayatollah Khomeini, first published in 1970, and probably the most influential document written in modern times in support of theocratic rule. ...

This theory was put into action as part of Iran's Islamic Revolution. But generally before then, by the time of Ayatollah Naraqi it was first produced and forced into Iran's royal law allowing Iranian ayatollahs to make sure that Islamic laws impacted the general laws of Iran.^{[citation needed]} 1980 Iranian stamp commemorating the Islamic Revolution Protestors take to the street in support of Ayatollah Khomeini. ...

Velayat Faqih in practice

Iran has become the first nation-state in history to apply Velayat Faqih in the government. According to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "Today, the [government of] the Iranian people is recognized as a model for all the peoples of the world....politicians, religious scholars, and scientists make requests in various manners, in order to benefit from the Iranian help, guidance, and support..."^[13] The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... This article is about a person who sets examples for others. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Criticism of political matters in Iran

"Guardianship" of the faqih in the Islamic Republic of Iran is represented not only in the Supreme Leader who must be a cleric but in other leading bodies, particularly the Assembly of Experts whose members must be clerics and the Council of Guardians, half of whom must be clerics. Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. ... The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts for the Leadership) of Iran (Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری, Majles-e-Khobregan), is a congressional body for selecting the Supreme Leader and supervising his activities. ... The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی in Persian) is a high office within the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which has the authority to interpret the constitution...

Although the Islamic Republic has an elected lower legislative chamber (Majles) like the earlier constitution of the 1906 Revolution, its power is circumscribed by the Council of Guardians. The Council vetoes any bills from the Majles it (the council), deems to be against the sharia, and any candidates wishing to run for the Majles it believes lacking in Islamic credentials. For example, 145 out of the 356 candidates who filed to run for 17 seats in the special 2001 Majles election were rejected by the Council of Guardians. ^[14] مجلس شورای اسلامی - The Majles; Irans Parliament. ... The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی in Persian) is a high office within the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which has the authority to interpret the constitution... It has been suggested that Rule of sharia be merged into this article or section. ...

Aside from these two bodies, the Islamic Republic has what some call a "parallel layer of power" in "virtually every branch of government." These individuals or institutions are "loyal to, or largely made up of clerics," and are equal to or more powerful than the position or body they parallel.^[15]

• the regular military have "shadow counterparts" in the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij;
• the police counterpart for many years were the komitehs, neighborhood committees policing social behavior;
• civil and criminal courts had counterparts in the Revolutionary Courts headed by clerics that tried subversive crimes in closed-door proceedings;
• provincial governors had Friday prayer leaders appointed by the Supreme Leader to watch them; ^[16]

Conflicts with other marjas

Unlike another well-known religous authority, the Vatican, where one man, the Pope is the ultimate arbiter of religious matters for Roman Catholics, Shia Muslims may follow, or emulate, one of several different marjas. After the establishment of the velayat-e faqih system in Iran, doctrinal differences between individual marjas and the Supreme Leader faqih have caused conflicts. Certain difference of opinion between the Supreme leader and other Marjas over issues such as the Islamic correctness of chess playing, listening to music, or fighting a war with Iraq has raised difficulties in running a velayat-e faqih system in Iran. The current Pope is Benedict XVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger), who was elected at the age of 78 on 19 April 2005. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Marja (Arabic/Persian: مرجع), also appearing as Marja Taqlid or Marja Dini (Arabic/Persian: مرجع تقليد / مرجع ديني), literally means Source of Emulation or Religious Reference. It is the label provided to Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed... Marja (Arabic/Persian: مرجع), also appearing as Marja Taqlid or Marja Dini (Arabic/Persian: مرجع تقليد / مرجع ديني), literally means Source of Emulation or Religious Reference. It is the label provided to Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed... Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. ...

Conflicts include:^[17][18]

• Grand Ayatollah Sadeq Rouhani was faced with limitation of his civil liberties, after he denounced Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, and his appointment by the Assembly of Experts as the successor of Khomeini. He later wrote an open-letter suing former president Rafsanjani for the government policies he saw unfit and which differed from his fatwas. Some of a difference in fatwas include banning chess and music, which he forbids but is allowed in Iran, and allowing extreme mortification practices during ashura, which he approves of but is banned in Iran.
• When Iraq invaded Iran, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Shirazi issued a fatwa forbidding any resistance (as he feared Muslim casualties). The Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Khomeini saw him as a threat to Iran's defense, and ordered his house-arrest. Another marja, Grand Ayatollah Hassan Tabataba'i-Qomi was also put under house arrest for his opposition to the war.

Other controversies that lead to a marja being put under house arrest or otherwise having their civil liberties limited are: Grand Ayatollah Sadeq Rohani (born 1926 in Qom, Iran) is an Iranian Marja. ... Montazeri is an Iranian surname. ... The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts for the Leadership) of Iran (Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری, Majles-e-Khobregan), is a congressional body for selecting the Supreme Leader and supervising his activities. ... President Rafsanjani Akbar Hashemi Bahramani (Persian: اکبر هاشمی بهرمانی), famously known as Hashemi Rafsanjani (هاشمی رفسنجانی) (born August 25, 1934) is one of the most influential... Flagellants mortifying the flesh, at the time of the Black Death Mortification of the flesh literally means putting the flesh to death. The term is primarily used in religious contexts, and is practised in a variety of ways. ... The Day of Aashurah, sometimes spelled ‘Ashurah or Aashoorah, falls on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. ... Combatants  Iran Iraq Commanders - Ruhollah Khomeini, - Abolhassan Banisadr, - Ali Shamkhani, - Mostafa Chamran† - Saddam Hussein, - Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength - 305,000 soldiers, - 500,000 Passdaran and Basij militia, - 1,000 tanks, - 1,000 armored vehicles, - 3,000 artillery pieces, - 450 aircraft, - 750 helicopters[1] - 190,000 soldiers, - 4,500 tanks... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. ... Ayatollah Khomeini founded the first modern Islamic republic Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini (آیت‌الله روح‌الله خمینی in Persian) (May 17, 1900 – June 3, 1989) was an Iranian Shia cleric and the political...

• Grand Ayatollah Kazem Shariatmadari, for his alleged role in a coup to topple the government in 1982.
• Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taher Shubayr Khaghani, for his alleged support of Saddam Hussein in 1980.
• Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, for denouncing the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in 1997.
• Grand Ayatollah Ya'sub al-Din Rastgari, for his anti-Sunni book, which resulted in riots in Iran's Sunni areas in 1994.

The Iranian government claims that the marjas were put under surveillance for their own safety, securing them from possible public backlash. As of 2003 there are no longer any marjas under house-arrest.^[19][18] Ayatollah Kazem Shariatmadari (1904 - 1985) was among the most senior leading Shia clerics in Iran and Iraq. ... Sadegh Ghotbzadeh (صادق قطب‌زاده;‎ 1936–September 15, 1982) was Iranian Foreign Minister (November 30, 1979–August, 1980) during Iran hostage crisis. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (Arabic: [1]; April 28, 1937[2] – December 30, 2006[3]), was the President of Iraq from July 16, 1979, until April 9, 2003. ... Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Gorbeh Nareh Montazeri (حسینعلی منتظری in Persian) was one of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and is a Grand Ayatollah, a Shia marja. ... Grand Âyatollâh   (Persian: آیت‌الله سید علی حسینی کس ننه ای Ä€yatollāh Seyyed `AlÄ« ḤoseynÄ« KhāmeneÄ«) (born 17 July 1939), also known as Seyyed Ali Khamenei,[1] is the current Supreme Leader of Iran and was the president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Criticism

The term "mullahcracy" is sometimes used by detractors to describe the Guardian Council, or the Islamic Republican system in general. ^{[20][citation needed]} The word is "mullah," a title given to some scholars of Islam^[21], suffixed with "-cracy," denoting a form a government^[22]. Mullahs in the court of a Qajar monarch, Iran. ... The English suffix -cracy means a form of government or a state having such government. ...

The level of control of Islamic scholars has even been challenged by some Islamic scholars themselves like Grand Ayatollah Hossein Montazeri and Ayatollah Mohamed Hossein Kazemini Borujerdi.^{[citation needed]} Ayatollah Montazeri Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri (Persian: حسین علی منتظری), styled His Honourable Eminence, born in 1922, was one of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and is a Grand Ayatollah (a Shia marja) and as such is considered one of the highest ranking authorities in Shia Islam today. ... Categories: | | | | | ...

Response to criticism

1. There is a wide spectrum of ideas about Wilayat-Faqih among Jafari scholars and it is not limited to two ideas mentioned above. The spectrum starts from guardian-less activities (الامور الحسبیه) in Islamic society, such as unattended children, and ends to absolute authority (الولایه المطلقه) in all public matters.

2. Two types of Wilayah can be understood. The first type of Wilayah which is mensioned in various chapters of Fiqh of Shia discusses about Wilayah over the dead and Wilayah over whom resembles dead, such as insane (سفيه), absentee (غائب), poor (فقير), etc. For example verse 33 of Sora 17 ^[23] refers to authority of heir of oppressed slain. This type of Wilayah can not be applied to a society because none of mentioned characteristics apply to human society. The second type of Wilayah which appears in principles of faith and kalam discusses about Wilayah over sagacious and wise people. The verse 55 of Sora 5 ^[24] implies the second type of Wilayah in Quran. The guardianship of jurisprudance can be underestood from this second type of Wilayah only. Believing Wilayat-Faqih is not the matter of following a marja but it should be underestood by reason and needs intellectual reason. This will guide us toward the concept of Wilayah of Fiqh or guardianship of jurisprudence which is essence of Wilayah of Faqih and should be discussed elsewhere. Kalam (علم الكلم)is one of the religious sciences of Islam. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Marja (Arabic/Persian: مرجع), also appearing as Marja Taqlid or Marja Dini (Arabic/Persian: مرجع تقليد / مرجع ديني), literally means Source of Emulation or Religious Reference. It is the label provided to Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed...

3. Owqaf (اوقاف) is better to be translated as endowments. ^[25]

4. None of the Jafari scholars believe in unlimitted guardianship but some of them believe absolute (مطلقه) one. They refer to the verse 62 of sora 24 ^[26] and believe that collective affairs (امر جامع) are under Wilayah of Faqih at most. Those scholars who believe in necessity of establishing Islamic state say that within the boundary of public affairs the Wilayah must be absolute, otherwise the state can not govern the country. See religious democracy. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

5. The majority of Shi'a accepted the late grand Ayatollah Hosain Borujerdi (1875 – 1962) as Marja'-e-Taqlid. It was only after his death that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini published his first political and social notice in which he invited all people to rise for Allah. This was due to the fact of his believing on Wilayah of Ayatollah Hosain Borujerdi. Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Husayn Borujerdi (آیت الله العظمی حسین بروجردی in Persian, 1875 – 1962) was a Shia Grand Ayatollah. ... Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Mosavi Khomeini ( ) (Persian: روح الله موسوی خمینی RÅ«ollāh MÅ«savÄ« KhomeynÄ« (May 17, 1900[1] – June 3, 1989) was a Shi`i Muslim cleric and marja (religious authority), and the political leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah... Allah is the Arabic language word for God. ... Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Husayn Borujerdi (آیت الله العظمی حسین بروجردی in Persian, 1875 – 1962) was a Shia Grand Ayatollah. ...

6. Nobody believes that the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran is the best implementation in the framework of Wilayat-Faqih. In fact its chapter XIV has been entitled "The Revision of the Constitution" and it revised one time yet. ^[27] Also it is a good idea to separate the theory and practice and then discuss around them. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

See also

• 1981 failed coup d'état in Bahrain
• Islamic republic
• Da'i al-Mutlaq
• Blasphemy laws of Islamic Republic of Iran

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... An Islamic republic in its modern context has come to mean several different things, some contradictory to others. ... The term Dāˤī al-Mutlaq (Arabic: الداعي المطلق) literally means the absolute or unrestricted missionary. In Ismāīlī Islām, the term dāˤī has been used to refer to important religious leaders other than the hereditary Imāms and the Daˤwa or Mission is a clerical-style organisation. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

References and notes

September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Further reading

• Defying the Iranian Revolution: From a Minister to the Shah to a Leader of Resistance, Manouchehr Ganji, ISBN 0-275-97187-2
• Islam and revolution : writings and declarations of Imam Khomeini / translated and annotated by Hamid Algar. Berkeley, [Calif.] : Mizan Press, c1981.

External links

• Iran’s Elections Serve Mullahcracy, Not Democracy, the Heritage Foundation.
• GlobalSecurity.org.
• al-Sistani's Web page on fiqh and beliefs.
• Towards an Understanding of the Shiite Authoritative Sources