The theoretical foundations of the Prophet's political and governmental behavior: An overview of Allameh Tabataba ee's Qur anic thoughts

To analyze the political and governmental behavior of the Prophet, first, I studied the goals behind sending prophets by Allah. According Allameh Tabataba’ee’s view of Quran, the subject originates from anthropology and leads to epistemology, socio-political philosophy, and the philosophy of revelation and prophethood. Human characteristics and his knowledge are such that lead to his understanding of world and his use of other creatures in his evolutionary upward movement. Since the cause of man’s social life was the satisfaction of his existential needs, he would make use of other things for his own benefit, something which would lead to idolatry and polytheism. Thus, Allah sent the prophets to organize man’s social life on the basis of justice. Such a religion, that aims at the emancipation of man and provision of the grounds for his evolution, should have a number of characteristics; for example, it should not devote religious knowledge to a specific class of people. The Prophet’s political behavior was based on Imamate, not kinghood. He revealed the realities behind Islam through inviting the people to generalities, expressed Islamic verdicts gradually, starting with verbal invitation, moving to denial-based invitation and Jihad.