Arms Sales to Enemies of Religion in Imam Khomeini’s Governmental Fiqh

This paper intends to review the religious rule for selling and prohibition to sell arms to enemies of the religion. In view of the past jurists, in general, such arms sales are subject to two rules of absolute prohibition on sale and differentiation between the time of war and peace. Absolute prohibition on sale means that arms must not be sold to the enemies of religion at any time, or it may be sold at time of peace but absolutely forbidden at time of war. Of course, there may be a third view that leads to the contradictory evidences despite the contradiction between permission to sell and prohibition on sale. In such cases, reference shall be made to the business by mutual consent.
Imam Khomeini rejects all three theories. Given the spirit and preference of the Sharia Law, the time and place circumstances, and authority of the Islamic ruler, he considers the permission to sell and prohibition on sale within the jurisdiction and power of the Islamic ruler. Imam Khomeini is of the opinion that it is the Islamic ruler and highly qualified religious jurisprudent who decides to sell arms or prohibit arms sales to enemies of religion. Upon the rule of the Islamic ruler and with respect to the expediency of the Islamic community, the permission to sell or the prohibition on arms sale will be made clear.