The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran while...

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran while addressing the Muslims on the significance of Ghadir Khumm, says, “The answer to those people who have tried to throw Islam out of the arena of social and political issues, to confine it to personal and individual affairs and to adopt a secular outlook towards Islam – the hands of the enemies and their propaganda efforts have been promoting this outlook among Muslims for many years – is the issue of Ghadir.

At the command of Allah, the Exalted, the Holy Prophet (God’s greetings be upon him and his household) addressed an important and fundamental issue in that sensitive condition and during the last months of his life. This important issue was attending to the issue of government after the Holy Prophet’s (s.w.a.) time” [3] . Islam is a comprehensive religion, which caters for both the material, as well as spiritual needs of man.

Islam is not a religion that focuses only on the rituals or is restricted to the mosques; it is rather, a complete way of life, which proffers solutions to all the social, economic, and political needs of man. Of course, an ideal government is the one established and run based on Divine dictate. It is the responsibility of every Muslim, therefore to struggle to achieve and sustain it.

However, in a situation where this is not achievable, politics or governance should not be abandoned in the hands of corrupt and unqualified individuals. Those conscious and qualified Muslims who have everything it takes to govern and manage the affairs of people should be given the opportunity to do so. The Muslims should, therefore, get involved in the restoration of orderliness, peace and security, social justice and development in their respective societies.

While emphasizing the need for the people’s involvement in politics, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said, “In the verses of Quran and many hadiths, people and elites are considered as responsible for the fate of society as well as preventing the society from deviation and divisions. Enjoining good deeds is also viewed as a public duty, and the establishment of a religious government is one of the essential good deeds.

Human beings also have the willpower and the right to determine their destiny; therefore, public involvement in a government is one of the manifestations of the right to self-determination [4] .