Security Issues in Previous Goverments
By giving people hope that the last divine Hojjat (proof) would establish the government of justice at the opportune time, they kept the thought of establishing a government based on truth, justice and supporting the oppressed in the minds of their followers. Needless to say, the precondition for dissimilation along with enlightening is that silence and lack of practical measures do not strengthen or approve wrongdoers.
In this case uprising and using force is imperative, even if it does not yield immediate results, because it would help reveal the truth and disclose the face of discord in the long term. That is why the movement of Karbala and Ashura regain their meaning and position in political analyses of Imams conducts.
Islamic government is value driven, but does not use every means to achieve its objective. The Islamic ruler is not allowed to sacrifice basic principles and values to strengthen his power. The philosophy of “end justifies the means” is not acceptable in the Islamic government.
Despite Shia political doctrine which is based on justice seeking and fighting oppression, Sunni jurisconsults have in support of power and government prohibited uprising against Muslim ruler and even do not consider debauchery and unjust actions of the ruler a reason for uprising against the ruler. As a result of this approach, security and maintaining order and upholding law take priority over justice.[1]
As we mentioned the before, a number of post- Renaissance Western philosophers considered providing security and maintaining order as the only purpose of government, gave unlimited power to the ruler and believed any uprising against the government to be illegitimate.[2]
Our discussion made clear the fact that Islam considers providing security as the least of government’s benefits; it is one of the objectives of the government, not its ultimate purpose.
Notes:
[1] . Hamid Enayat, Political thought in contemporary Islam, p.33
[2] . Muhammad Javan Noroozi, An Introduction to Political system in Islam, p 103, 104
Ahmad Niazi, graduate of Qom Seminary and Phd student of Al Mustafa international university
Source: political science journal, No. 3
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Duties of Theocracy from Religious Point of view
Tax system in Islam
