Guardianship (Velayat) of Just Believers in Governmental Jurisprudence of Imam Khomeini (ra)

According to theological-jurisprudent idea of Imam Khomeini (ra), human communities can run permanent and political life with no guardian, meaning that people have been led by the Saint Imams and the Infallibles (‘a) throughout history and in their absence, a non-infallible person of their kind takes charge of public guardianship. Although this office is fixed for the Immaculate Imam (affirmed office), guardianship of government is made possible based on public reception and allegiance when it is to be proved. On the age of the Occultation of the Immaculate Imam and according to Imam Khomeini (ra) and many jurisprudents, a highly competent jurisprudent (jurisprudent cognizant of Divine Laws, just and possessive of efficiency and management of community has been given this responsibility based on intellectual reasoning and traditional confirmations and he establishes government with public reception (called allegiance in early Islam). This action is taken to be succession of the Immaculate Imam (‘a). Nevertheless, some of the jurisprudents say government of jurisprudent on the Occultation Age shall be established based on all rules of community. In this attitude, jurisprudent undoubtedly undertakes government. Based on the two bases, the question is that when jurisprudent shirks responsibility, who shall take charge of managing community affairs? In response to this question, both believe that just believer is given turn to take charge of governmental affairs under such circumstances. Based on what Imam Khomeini (ra) says, if believers take charge of government, it means responsibility of affairs rather than guardianship like Velayat-e-Faqih. Jurisprudent documentations of such idea, according to him, largely refer back to government affairs on the Occultation Age. This article discusses reasons behind guardianship of believers and responsibility of governmental office on their behalf.