
A comprehensive outline of Shi’a political thought in general, and the modern incarnation of this political thought, which is embodied in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The focus of the book is on explaining the political system of Wilayat al-Faqih and it's comparision with other political systems like liberal democracy.
- Shia Political Thought
- Introduction
- Islam and Politics
- What is Wilayat al-Faqih?
- The Concept of Imamate
- Imam as “Wali”
- The Theory of Caliphate
- The Meaning of Wilayat al-Faqih
- Hisbiya Affairs (Al-Umur al-Hisbiya)
- Some Misconceptions
- The Historical Background
- Multiplicity in Wilayat
- The Dominion of the Wali al-Faqih
- Al-Wilayat al-Mutlaqa
- Wilayat al-Faqih and other Ideas of Guardianship
- Why Wilayat al-Faqih?
- Traditional Evidences for Wilayat al-Faqih
- A Signet Letter (Tuqih)63 from the Absent Imam
- Maqbula of Umar ibn Hanzala
- The Tradition of Abu Khadija
- The First Tradition: The Sound Transmission of Qadah
- The Second Tradition: Saduqs’ Morsala76
- The Third Tradition: The Fuqaha are the Trustees of the Prophets
- The Fourth Tradition: The Ulema are the Rulers
- The Fifth Tradition: Imam Hussain’s Sermon
- The Sixth Hadith: The Fuqaha are the Fortress of Islam
- Wilayat al-amma as Hisbah
- The Rational Argument
- The Characteristics of Wali al-Faqih and the Problem of ‘A‘lamiya’
- Criticism of Guardianship
- Traditional Evidences for Wilayat al-Faqih
- Islam and Democracy
- What is Democracy?
- Democracy and Liberalism
- Benefits of Democracy
- Foundations of Democracy
- Intrinsic Equality
- Priority of the Will of the Majority over Rightness
- General Freedom
- Limited Democracy versus Pure Democracy
- What is the Conception of a ‘Religious Democracy’?
- Smoothing the Path to Religious Democracy
- Religious Democracy is Paradoxical
- Usurpation of God's Sovereignty
- The Problem of Legal Equality
- Reconciling Islam and Liberal Democracy
- Final Word
- Bibliography