Foundations of Political Sovereignty in the Holy Qur ān

Sovereignty is the supreme commanding power which ensures the responsibility of making and enacting laws and judgment within its own internal territory. It is also independent of foreign countries at an international level. Given the fact our nation and political system is Islamic, the true exposition of sovereignty from the Qur’anic point of view, in addition to clearing up doubts, has an important effect on strengthening the foundations of the government, developing and regulating orientations, conducts of a political system and the agents. In this connection, the present research work, proposing the question, “What is the origin of and criteria for exercising authority and political sovereignty from the Qur’anic perspective?” and studying the various aspects and indices of sovereignty, seeks to trace these indices in the Holy Qur’an and its exegeses and concludes that from the Qur’anic point of view, political sovereignty is of divine origin. In other words, it has its roots in revealed and cosmic Sovereignty of God (Divine Lordship). Accordingly, the exercise of political sovereignty and supreme authority in legislative, executive and judiciary realms as well as in matters related to foreign policy can be accepted only within the framework of religious precepts and regulations. Other governmental mechanisms and the national sovereignty gains its meaning along with the Divine Sovereignty.