نَعَمْ إنَّه لا حُكْمَ إلاّ للهِ، ولَكِنَّ هؤلاءِ يَقولونَ: لا إمْرَةَ إلاّ للهِ.

نَعَمْ إنَّه لا حُكْمَ إلاّ للهِ، ولَكِنَّ هؤلاءِ يَقولونَ: لا إمْرَةَ إلاّ للهِ. إنَّه لا بُدّ للنَّاسِ مِن أمِيرٍ بَرٍّ أو فاجِرٍ يَعمَلُ في إمْرَتِهِ المُؤمِنُ ويَسْتَمْتِعُ بها الكافِرُ ويُبَلِّغُ اللهُ فيها الأجَلَ ويُجمَعُ به الفيءُ ويُقاتَلُ بِه العَدُوُّ وتَأمَنُ بها السُّبُلُ ويُؤخَذُ بِه للضَّعيفِ مِن القَويِّ حَتىّ يَستريحَ بَرُّ ويُستَراحَ مِن فاجِرٍ. “The statement is right but what (they think) it means is wrong.

Yes, it is true that verdict lies but with God, but these people say that (the function of) governance is only for God. The fact is that there is no escape for men from a ruler, whether good or bad. The faithful persons perform (good) acts in his rule while the unfaithful ones enjoy (worldly) benefits in it. During the rule, God would carry everything to end.

Tax is collected by the ruler, enemies are fought with, roadways are protected and the right of the weak is taken from the strong till the virtuous enjoys peace and is allowed protection from (the oppression of) the wicked.” Imam Ali stresses the need for a ruler in the society and his role. He points out that a peaceful and strong society is one in which there is a strong rule based upon which security and order is established in the society.

Here the Imam stressed the absolute necessity of a ruler in the society. Imam Ridha’s Views on the Need for a Ruler Fazl ibn Shazan quoted Imam Ridha’s views on the necessity of the existence of a ruler in the society, and the reasons behind it.

He then stated that the Imam said: وَمِنها أنّا لا نَجِدُ فِرقَةً مِن الفِرقِ ولا مِلَّةً مِن المِلَلِ بَقُوا وَعاشُوا إلا بِقَيِّمٍ وَرَئيسٍ لمَا لا بُدّ لهَمُ مِنهُ في أمْرِ الدّينِ وَالدُّنيا، فَلم يَجُزْ في حِكْمَةِ الحَكيمِ أنْ يَتْرُكَ الخَلْقَ ممّا يُعلَمُ أنّهُ لا بُدّ لهُمْ مِنهُ ولا قِوامَ لهُم إلاّ به، فَيُقاتِلونَ بهِ عَدُوَّهُم وَيُقَسِّمونَ بهِ فَيئَهُم وَيُقِيمُ لهُم جَمْعِيَّتَهُم وَجَماعَتَهُم وَيمنَعُ ظالِمَهُم مِن مَظلومِهِم.

“One reason to support this view is that there have been no groups or nations who have been able to continue living without a leader or ruler, since people need a leader for their worldly and heavenly affairs. Therefore, it is not wise for a sage to deprive the people of what they need to continue living. They fight their enemies under his rule. They divide the booties under his supervision. They establish their Friday congregations and other gatherings through him.

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