An Investigation of Cooperation of Religious Scholars with Unjust Rulers

The present article investigates and analyzes cooperation of ulema with unjust rulers. First the terms "jowr" [injustice] and “ja’er" [unjust or oppressive ruler] have been defined in jurisprudential context followed by a clarification on the difference between "jowr" and "zulm" [oppression]. Later different categories of rulers in jurisprudential legacy of Shiism have been mentioned. Having studied cooperation of ulema with unjust rulers in different eras, we see that according to verdicts issued by all Shiite jurisprudents, the primary principle is that cooperation with unjust rulers is haram [forbidden]. However, cooperation of ulema with unjust rulers under special conditions did not in any way mean to legitimize their rule; rather some positive aspects of cooperation such as: taqiyah [the practice of concealing one's beliefs in dangerous circumstances], public interest or good, revival of amr be maroof [commanding the good] and nahy anil munkar [forbidding the evil] made them to cooperate.