ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Discursive Theology Volume 1 Lesson 10: The Divine Unity in Lordship Rubūbiyyah or Lordship is one of the Attributes of Perfection of God. Rubūbiyyah is derived from the word rabb and lexicographically an infinite ( maṣdar ) which means tarbiyyah (nurture) but it is most frequently used in the sense of the doer of action ( ism fā‘il ) meaning ‘nurturer’.

This word, in the latter sense, is exclusively and absolutely applied to God, but it is also applied sometimes to other than God, as in the words rabb al-dār (head of the house), rabb al-firdaws (doyen of the paradise), etc.[^1] The word tadbīr (management) in the sense of rubūbiyyah (lordship) has been used a lot in Qur’anic verses and traditions ( aḥādīth ).

Tadbīr means to put a thing next to another thing in a particular order and arrangement in such a way that the intended purpose of each of them could be attained. For example, managing ( tadbīr ) home affairs is to put each thing in its suitable place so that it could be used in the most appropriate manner without wasting anything. Managing the affairs of the universe means to create a particular order among the creatures in such a way that every creature could attain its desired perfection.

This kind of management is a specific management which pertains to every phenomenon but the general management in relation to the entire universe is to let such an order govern the universe so that the world of creation could reach its ultimate goal which is the return to God and the emergence of the hereafter.[^2] Cosmic and Legislative Lordship What has been discussed so far pertains to the cosmic ( takwīnī ) Lordship and management of the universe, but with respect to some creatures, legislative ( tashrī‘ī ) lordship and management are also raised, and this pertains to the creatures which, in addition to the instinctive guidance, also possess rational guidance.

For this reason, they have also rational responsibility but since their reason is not that perfect and that capable in every aspect, they are also in need of legislative guidance which has been provided by the prophets of God ( ‘a ) and the heavenly religion. This subject constitutes the foundation of prophethood ( nubuwwah ) and heavenly codes of law. Therefore, one of the manifestations of Lordship is the legislative one.