Some of these are as follows...

Some of these are as follows: In his al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, Abul-Hasan al-Mawardi says: Imamate and government have been decreed to serve as a succession to Prophethood, a protection for the religion and a planning of the affairs of the world; it is an obligation unanimously considered to be a duty of the one who can establish it.[1] This Muslim scholar, who is a distinguished Sunni man of learning, presents two proofs in support of his statement: rational and religious.

a) The rational proof: for it is a disposition of the wise to follow a leader, one that may debar them from doing each other injustice, and keep them at a distance when they quarrel. Were it not for the leaders, the people would disperse and fall into confusion thus losing their efficiency.[2] [1] al-Mawardi's al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, chapter 1, p. 5, 1st ed. Egypt. [2] al-Mawardi's al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, chapter 1, p. 5, 1st ed. Egypt.

b) The religious proof: And as for the religious proof in support of vesting the authority in religion with the affairs, Allah the Majestic, the Glorified, has said, O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you. 4:59.

Thus, God has made it incumbent on us to obey those in authority; they are our leaders and commanders.[1] Shaykh Saduq, on the authority of al-Fadl ibn Shadhan quotes Imam `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (a.s) as having delivered a detailed sermon on the need for a government, part of which is as follows: We find no nation that can survive without a guardian and a leader, one to whom the issues, religious or otherwise, must inevitably be referred.

It is thus improbable that the Wise God should leave unsettled the question that people are in need of and without which they cannot be consistent.

It is upon the order of their leaders, then, that the nations fight off their enemies, divide the war spoils, hold their Friday and congregational prayers; and it is the ruler who keeps the oppressors away from the oppressed.[2] It is impossible to analyze, in such a limited span as this, all the statements of the Muslim jurists in regard to this issue, for it requires a separate book.

However, a survey of the extensive Islamic jurisprudence shows that unless there is a powerful government, most of the Islamic rules will not be put in practice. [1] Ibid. [2] `Ilal al-Shara'i`, sub-section 182, tradition No. 9, p. 253.