Courses of Islamic political thought

The necessity of Governments in Nahjolbalaghe
As Nahjolbalaghe teaches the knowledge to people in a true way since it is narrated by a perfect man, it has advices in all aspects of human life and everyone can find the answer to his question in different aspects including the values, past, present, future, the practical wisdom in the beautiful expressions of Nahjolbalaghe. And since government and policy are one of the most important social systems in the human life, the word of Amir al Mo’emenoon Ali peace upon him is full of religious and divine points and teachings in the area of government and political philosophy of Islam so that we can call Nahjolbalaghe as Nahjolhokomeh. It is better that all people learn the way of ruling according to the teachings of Nahjolbalaghe. The effort of author in writing this paper in the explanation of political philosophy of Islam from the perspective of Nahjolbalaghe has been done in two ways:
First from the theoretical view point that leads to the deeper and more complete knowledge toward the religion of Islam and this has so many effects and benefit. Second from the political view point and according to the position of Islam in the world and the establishment of Islamic government and mentioning the Islam as the powerful opponent of political thoughts around the world, we feel a severe need to the explanation of political philosophy of Islam. Of course some groups have tried regarding this issue but the volume of done work is less than what should be done, and it should be said that much work should be done in this issue. It is hoped that the invisible hand comes out and does something.
The antecedent of debate: the issues of political thoughts of Islam are generally debated during the interpretation books and ideas especially in the debate of Imamate. During last two centuries that the issue of Velayat e Faqih has been considered more seriously among religious scholars, the heads of political philosophy of Islamic debates have been mentioned as the introduction for the issue of great religious scholars. Though the great scholars of each above mentioned courses has paid a lot of attention to their course and they have delivered worthy works but as the way of Political thought of our rival civilizations are different, we need to mention the Islamic political philosophy in the comparative form in different cultural levels. Unfortunately, there has been no proper response so far.
Way of debate: as we pointed out before we have tried in this research to mention the issue in a comparative way namely as we consider the ideas of rivals we understand the Islamic view point in the political thought so in addition to understanding the exact idea of those who agree or disagree with this view point. Their ideas are diverse and with reviewing diverse philosophies we can strengthen our own faith toward our own philosophy. Some issues deserve consideration in the field of political philosophy, including:
1. The need for government in human society
2. Terms of the ruler in Islam
3. The role of people in the Islamic state
4. The problem of the dictatorship of the majority
5. The difference between the Islamic governments with aristocracy.
6. Similarities and differences of Islamic rule with democracy
7. Measures to prevent the dictatorship in the Islamic government
In this discussion we will mention the first topic of above mentioned discussions:
1. The need for government in the human society:
Government has an extremely long-lived age in human history to the extent that it is necessary to establish the government as a general belief. So it may seem that mentioning the issue of the necessity of government in human society is useless but when we consider the political thoughts of human being, we find that this idea namely lack of necessity of government has been existed among some theorists from the distant past about political philosophy and they have called such a theory as anarchism.
The term anarchism is essentially a combination of an-arches. Arches and its Hammond of archy means focus and head, and by bringing an, in principle, the word takes on a negative charge and meaning. So believe in the teachings of anarchism can be considered as the most important institution in crystallizing the secret government, and then the belief in anarchism is the belief in no government. Thus, "Whoever denies the authority and power and fight with it, he is an anarchist."
The anarchists have criticized all the ideas that led to the necessity of the rule, whether the government is an established institute or a natural institute. When we analyze anarchist we know that their source of government establishment are either one of the factors of ignorance, greedy or cruelty that the last factor of cruelty has a special importance. They believe that in the past, people were ignorant and they thought if they obey the government they will receive some benefits and sometimes their government was cruel and they can do nothing but obedience. So anarchism not only believes that the state was not established naturally, but it believes we should expect its decline and collapse.
Anarchist ideas in the history of Islam:
Though the teaching of anarchism belongs to the new era and it is an essential criticism to the modern government that is established in late 18th century and after the revolution of France, but we can find some other ideas similar to the ideas of anarchist. In the Islamic beliefs, the idea of lack of need for the government has been attributed to Abu bakrasam, an early scholar of Mu'tazila.
Ibn Abul Hadid Mu’tazila said.
“But the issue that Khawarej denied the necessity of government has been mentioned in the Nahjolbalaghe, of course in the history, Khawarej has rejected this theory and they selected rulers and chiefs for themselves.
Is the social life of human being possible without a government?
After analyzing the concept and a brief history of anarchism, we face the question that whether the social life is possible without a government? The answer to this question depends on the anthropologic images and it seems that anarchists and also Abu-Bakr Assam in his viewpoint toward human believed that by education we can hope the number of evil and criminal deeds decreases but we should say such imagination is more optimistic than realistic.
The necessity of government from the viewpoint of Nahjolbalaghe:
Amir al Mo’emenoon, Ali peace upon him in his 40th sermon has mentioned the reasons of necessity of government in human society and political power and he explains the necessity of government:
Translation:
"One of his words about the Khawarej was when he heard their speech that said “there is no commandment but the commandment of God. "
He said: This is a truth that they used it for void. "
Yeah Allah is the only commander but these people say that no one is the head of government except God. But the existence of ruler is necessary for people, both good ruler and bad ruler because with a good ruler they perform their good deeds and the pagan benefit for this world and the life continues and reaches to its end. By a government the tax is gathered and it helps to fight with enemies, the roads will be safe and the right of poor people will be taken from the rich ones. All these issues will be possible as soon as the government has a ruler.”
In the word of Ali peace upon him seven reasons have been mentioned necessary for the existence of government including the good or bad government. In other words he has mentioned the benefits of a government in a society and without a government no one is possible:
1. The believer is able to do good deeds.
2. The disbeliever takes advantage of this world.
3. People have a normal life.
4. The taxes are collected.
5. The government fights against external enemies.
6. The internal security is created.
7. The justice and taking the rights of the weak from the powerful is possible.
We can say that all above mentioned benefits are some reasoning on the necessity of government from the social nature of humans. The explanation is that every human being wants to employ other humans and he wants to benefit other humans and this instinct demand causes the human accepts to form civil and cooperative society. Now if we attach this point that humans are different according to their creation, their living position and their moral habits so the result is that these different demands and ethics are threatening the society and social justice. And all powerful people want to benefit the poor ones so the differences lead to the anarchy and it destroys the humans namely it takes his nature, and it destroys his happiness.
Verse 119 of Surah Hood refers to the same thing:
"People are constantly in dispute except those whose lord has mercy on them.”
As we have seen this difference is necessary, and its occurrence among human communities is inevitable.
So the difference in the nature of human beings leads to the difference in their emotions and their understandings and therefore this leads to the difference in their goals and wishes and their different objectives lead to different actions and different actions will threaten the social system and we should accept the state government to resolve conflicts and human life continue to the end. "
According to the above stated reasons we can explain the reasons of Imam Ali (peace upon him) about the necessity of government in this way:
1. Believers act: As a believer believes in life after death so she knows the fate of her eternal life is in relation to her actions in this world so she expects the government to provide the environment for good deeds and as we said without a government, life cannot continue so it is obligatory there is a government even the evil government. Although we should be careful that the duties and actions of a believer may be different in a good government or an evil government but the principle of social good deeds of a believer will be possible with a government so there is no doubt in the necessity of government.
2. Disbeliever benefits for this world: since the disbeliever does not believe in the hereafter and resurrection so all his efforts is for this world and he expects the community just to benefit this world.
It is clear that without a government that is the consistency of human society, the enjoyment of disbelievers will be impossible.
3. the life will continue in its normal form: surely everything has an end Here, if Imam Ali peace upon him means death of human being so the government is the natural context and the underlying environment for people's life and if no governments exist, the anarchy will happen in the social, and the survival of maturity of the human species would be impossible and their death will come sooner.
And if he means the death of society and the nation, so he refers to the essential role of government in continuation of social life of the nation.
4. According to the legal decree, the tax belongs to Imam Ali peace upon him and to the Islamic judge because of his position of leadership that he and his Department spend in Public Works and the interests of low-income groups, and this provides the economic justice.
Therefore, the necessity of governments to create an economic and social justice was also mentioned.
5 and 6 and 7 refer to different aspects of security that government should provide it and without a government the security cannot be provided in a society.

Loss of dictatorship

Dictatorship - as a kind of political system – is a familiar word to all of us and since this is a so-called word that is familiar and has a negative charge, we had no opportunity to analyze its aspects and evaluate their defendants. But since we can understand things with their opposites so understanding the political philosophy and system of Islam depends on the consideration of rival thoughts and most of people consider it as the only successful form of government. Therefore, it is necessary to discusses about it.
1. The generalities and Concepts:
1-1 the meaning of dictatorship: the dictatorship would have been meant that the purpose of the dictatorship is some kind of power that has the following characteristics:
1. Unlimited sovereign power and lack of laws or traditions that are considered in the actions of governor.
2. To obtain a high power with the infringement of previous laws.
3. The lack of regular rules for succession
4. Use of power in the interests of a small group
5. Nationals obedience only because of the fear of government power
6. The concentration of power in the hands of one person
7. The use of terror
It seems that dictatorship is the government that has the first four features and the fifth to seventh specifications are the instruments of dictatorship.
In any way according to history the term dictator in the ancient Rom was attributed to those who ruled for six months in emergency times so this kind of dictatorship was a rational and legal power that is used in some democrat systems today but in the late period of republic, those kings who captured the power illegally took this nickname and dictatorship became illegal. Sulla and Julius Caesar removed the dictatorship restrictions and ruled illegally.
In political terms, the word dictatorship is the synonym of tyranny, , autocracy and Tiran, although there are some small differences between some of them are with the dictatorship.
2-1-all kinds of dictatorships: except Roman dictator that we mentioned there are other types of dictatorships whose most important dictatorships in human history include: the tyranny of monarchy, and Marxism (the dictatorship of the proletariat).
3-1 the relationship of Dictatorship and Democracy: it is good to mention a question here and that is the ratio between the dictatorship and democracy, are they contradictory or antonym?
The statement that "the dictatorship is a violation of democracy" sometimes creates the illusion in the minds that in fact the opposition between dictatorship to democracy is an oxymoron, kind of arguments and as we observed the absence of one of the features of liberal democracy, then we accuse the government to dictatorship.
For example kind of Islamic government is the third form of government that belongs to no form of two governments mentioned above but this kind of Islamic government has all benefits of these two governments in addition to some other benefits.
4-1 - sometimes in different parties people are talking about the concept made by public opinion, which is "fair dictator" in this sense, we should mention some points:
First, the concept of the fair dictatorship includes a contradiction since the necessary characteristic of the dictator is lack of guidelines and regulations that would be binding for dictator and the righteous requirement of being fair is having the framework and regulations.
Secondly, the concept of fair dictator has the illusion of a contradiction between the concept of democracy and dictatorship.
2. Why the dictatorship is necessary:
Although the dictatorship is usually considered as an evil system but through history some political philosophers have mentioned its necessity and they have considered the dictatorship absolutely or contemporarily useful and obligatory even in the 20th century Herbert Markozeh, one of the famous individuals of Frankfort school has advised in his article (repressive tolerance), some arbitrary behaviors that are derived from the viewpoint of Marx who has justified the dictatorship!
The classic argument on the necessity of dictatorship has been mentioned by Thomas Hobbes.
2-1 – explaining the theory of Hobbes:
Hobbes is an example of a philosopher who has preferred the loss or corruption of absolute power and the dictatorship of the evils to the loss of living in a society that does not possess such authority, Hobbes's theory almost depends on the psychological theory of human nature. Therefore, the human is naturally selfish and egoistic.
His desires require the satisfaction and success. For example we can explain all his actions as an effort to satisfy the desires, such as food and housing, and fame and fortune, and so explained. If people lived in small groups, it does not include important consequences, however when in larger and larger groups they are integrated with each other, it is more important in explaining their behavior towards each other. Life is a battlefield where the strong will prevail but only temporarily, because even the powerful people in the conflict will be defeated. If humans want to survive such a situation cannot continue indefinitely, no normal human is not looking for peace and reconciliation, the human wants to meet his desires, but if he wants to remain, the existence of peace, reconciliation, and the law is essential, Hobbes mentioned on these premises the following results: 1. The royal authority of each nation must be absolute (the necessity of dictatorship)
2. The power of the dictator is authoritarian.
3. Opposition of dictator must be submitted or vanished.
4. Whatever the king behave, it cannot be cruel, because fair treatment, according to Hobbes, is the commitment to the rules of society, and since the king establishes the laws, what he does is considered the law and justice.
2.2 Criticism of the theory of Hobbes:
I'll explain some points in criticizing the theory of Hobbes:
A. The issues that psychological and anthropological theory of Hobbes has documented to it are that humans are naturally egoist and only this kind of tendency exists in humans, but this theory cannot be proved because as there is the animal tendencies in human being so there is the opposite tendency toward goodness and human values too.
B. Hobbes advised the obedience from the dictator government to cause security and avoid anarchy; he believed that there is no way for safe life except dictatorship. But as we know and it will be explained in the future, the rule of law and order and security is possible without despotism. The suggestion of a liberal democracy in the West and the Muslim leadership in the world of Islam are opposite methods to authoritarian.
(C) The definition of justice from the viewpoint of Hobbes' is not the "adherence to the laws of society" as a criterion for the fairness of the laws themselves. It means that whatever the law is, it is fair and he believes the action and behavior of law maker is absolutely beyond the judgment of humans as he says openly: whatever the king does, is the same law and justice therefore human wisdom cannot determine good and evil of king's action.
This view of Hobbes reminds us the word of Ashae'rites (Sunni theologians) who denied the rational good and evil of an action, and they say: “good work is what the legislature considered it as a good work and the evil work is what the legislators consider it evil.”
Of course they have mentioned this theory about the actions of the almighty God but certainly this was a good base for their idea in the debates of Imamate and leadership of Islamic society and this theory made some religious scholars to pronounce a degree: "everyone who became dominant on the Islamic community by force and he claims that he is the head of community and people call him Amir al Mo’emenoon, no believer is allowed to reject him and he is considered the head of Islamic community either he is evil or he is good.”
It is appropriate to compare this word from the point of view of holy prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his Descendants) who said:
"Anyone who saw the tyrant ruler who considers haram of God as halal and the prohibited acts by God as the good acts, he is breaking the divine covenants, he disagrees with the custom of holy prophet of Islam, he violates the people, one who saw this but did not fight against this cruel ruler and refused to deny him, God has the right to put him in the hell in the same position of the same tyrant king.”
3. Islam and dictatorship:
Allameh Tabatabai in the interpretation of Almizan after introducing the religion as a social and political way to run a society that is approved by the Almighty God, he says:
"What is necessary to be considered is that this socio-political way that is called religion is different from the tyrant government that considers the property of Allah as his own property and considers the servants of God as his own servants.”
Here we mention the reasons for the rejection of the dictatorship by Islam:
3-1- the most important rational reason that justifies the dictatorship is that: if dictator uses his power and force to make people do something, it is because of peoples benefit so this force is some kind of mercy on people and this is obligatory rationally.
Herbert Marcuse in his article “the Repressive of Tolerance”, justifies the violence, no matter how inhuman the violence is. He rhetorically asks, "When has been the history made in accordance with ethical standards?”
The answer is that, firstly, it is not acceptable that the oppression and the violence of dictators are for the good and benefit of people and such cases are rare. Second, assuming the acceptance of the purpose of dictator is holy but the way dictatorship acts is not acceptable as because the goal does not justify the means.
3.2. The narrative reasons of negation of the dictatorship
The themes we find in many verses of the holy Quran, we found that the oppression and injustice, adherence to arbitrary and even authoritarian methods and compulsion to spread faith and religion is condemned and considered non-acceptable by Allah:
"And if thy Lord wanted (to force) all people on earth, they believed at once (now the tradition is upon people's choice on faith) so do you force people to believe?"
"Noah told his people if you see that I have come with a clear proof from my Lord and God has given me His mercy (specific prophecy) that that is hidden for you (do you still refuse?) Whether I force you to accept it, while you are averse to it?”
Therefore the holy Quran disagrees with the tyranny because it is incompatible with the high value of the human being, also the study of Prophet Muhammad (peace upon him and his family) and Amir al Mo’emenoon Ali (peace upon him) indicates the way of Islamic government and the character of the leaders of Islamic rule that were far from the tyranny and dictatorship, I finish my word by some statements of the Amir al Mo’emenoon Ali peace upon him who is the Master of pious people:
"Do not talks to me as if I am a tyrant; avoid fearing me as you fear the strong aggressive people against you? Do not interact with me in your artificial appearance and do not think that if you say a truth it is hard for me to accept it. Everyone who cannot hear the word of justice cannot perform the justice too. Tell the truth and try to perform the justice.