The Guardianship of the Jurist and the Theory of Islamic Governance: A Historical Perspective

In this book, ʿAllamah Sayyid Jaʿfar Murtaḍā al-ʿĀmilī raises the subject of the guardianship of the jurist and its rational and primordial proofs from a historical aspect. In Sūrat al-Māʾidah, Verse 55 of the Noble Qurʾān, God (swt) says:

{Your guardian is only God, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the zakāt while bowing down.}

This noble verse tackled the guardianship of God (swt) and His Messenger (s), in addition to a few believers who possess certain traits and who - after him - attain the guardianship and government over the people.

The author analyzes the position of this verse - from an Islamic viewpoint - in terms of a governmental system which dominates all the affairs, behaviors and movements of the nation, in addition to directing its stances in regards to its life and journey towards its goal. Islam takes care to guide the nation towards this goal, and then realize and acquire it. We only want to make an attempt to know Islam's opinion in regards to government and the governor, and to see whether it meets any of the proposed theories or others that were known across the nations, or has a new and unique proposal in this field.