The Historical Development of Shia Governmental Fiqh in the view of Early Scholars

According to Shiite beliefs, one of the Holy Prophet's responsibilities was the management of Islamic society, a responsibility which his successors, i.e. infallible Imams undertake after him. Therefore, the necessity of establishing a just government by infallible Imams and supporting it is among the most fundamental Shiite beliefs. This notion has stimulated Shi’ah faqihs to elaborate on such questions about management of society like Jihad, enjoining good and prohibiting evil, observing divine limits and the like. The present paper seeks to expound the historical development of the discussions on governmental issues in Shia fiqh (jurisprudence) generated by jurists of the early centuries until Muhaqqiq Hilli's time. Some great jurists like Sheikh Saduq initiated such discussions and some like Sheikh Mufid expanded them. This paper also refers to the views of a number of great jurists like Seyyed Murtaza, Abu Salah Halabi, Sheikh Tusi, Salar, Ibn Barraj and Ibn Idris.