A Short Inquiry on the Perceptions of “Good Governance” in Shi‘a Religious Philosophy

Abstract

In Shi‘a teachings, there is a principle of equitable governing and guidance through the implementation of the divine will of the Imam. While much religious tradition has rejected the idea that Iranian monarchs were the embodiment of the divine nature and that they were righteous rulers, there is little doubt that the Shi‘a ideas arose from imitating ancient Iranian religious traditions. This has been the basis of the popularity of Shi‘a doctrines within the Iranian society. Justice is one of the beliefs of Shi‘a religious and political thought that has been a significant addition to the five major pillars of Islam. It has also been one of the primary issues of ancient Iranian political thought that was imported into the political ideology of Islam in the Muslim era. The author discusses some points regarding this issue in Shi‘a religious philosophy.