Vilayat-i Faqih

Vilayat-i Faqih (ولاية الفقيه)

Vilayat-i Faqih (also spelled Wilayat al-Faqih) is a principle in Shia Islamic governance that refers to the guardianship or rule by a jurist. It denotes the conceptual basis wherein a religious scholar or jurisprudent (faqih) holds the political authority and is responsible for implementing divine law and moral guidance.

Etymology

• Arabic: ولاية الفقيه (Wilāyat al-Faqīh)
• Turkish: Velayet-i Fakih

Historical Context

The concept of Vilayat-i Faqih gained wide currency in the Shii world when it was used as the title of a published series of lectures given by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1969. Prior to these lectures, the concept was more abstract and debated among Islamic jurists. Ayatollah Khomeini’s interpretation posited that in the absence of the infallible Imam, the Islamic jurist can hold cyclical combined religious and political authority to ensure societal congruence with Sharia (Islamic law).

Implementation in Iran

Vilayat-i Faqih became institutionalized when Ayatollah Khomeini came to power following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Under this governance structure, the Supreme Leader (Rahbar) of Iran holds comprehensive control over both religious dictums and state policy, verifying the integration of Islamic principles in every aspect of governance. This position spans beyond any elected offices, providing the Supreme Leader final say and control over major aspects such as military, judiciary, and foreign policy.

Core Components

• Guardianship: A jurist provides overarching moral and shari‘ah-based guidance.
• Legal Oversight: Ultimate interpretative authority over Islamic law and governance.
• Political Authority: Leads the executive and legislative investigations, and constitutes guardian council’s final arbitration.

Critique and Controversy

While Vilayat-i Faqih has standardized Shiite clerical views in Iran, it has incited debate within broader Islamic dissenting perspectives. Critics argue it theoretically universalizes clerical dominance and curtails democratic institutions under strict theocratic obligations.

Books for Further Studies

• “Islam and Revolution: Writings and Declarations of Imam Khomeini” by Ruhollah Khomeini.
• “Theocratic Secularism: Statecraft in Iran” by Geneive Abdo.
• “Wilāyah: The Station of the Master” by Shaykh al-Tusi.

Takeaways

• Vilayat-i Faqih emphasizes total religious and political integration under clerical jurisdiction in the absence of the Imam.
• Instituted by Ayatollah Khomeini, it underpins Iran’s governance framework since the 1979 Revolution.
• Presents a point of technical and practical interrogation revolving around sovereignty, interpretation during Islamic jurisprudence for Iran and broader Shia accustomed societies.

Conclusion

Vilayat-i Faqih remains a cornerstone in Iranian institutions, solidifying symbiotic governance through a single theological legal interpretation model propounded by the Supreme Leader. Its debates over validity keep influencing political and legal paradigms in contemporary Islamic thought.