All of these constitute politics and it is so.

All of these constitute politics and it is so.”[455] If politics is such and forbidding corruption is deemed part of it, then Islam also has politics as it pursues the enjoinment of what is good and the preclusion of what is bad. Hence, the Imām describes Islam itself, thus: “Islam is governance along with its affairs and decrees.”[456] Similarly, the Infallibles ( ‘a ) have always been involved in politics in this sense.

On what day was the Most Noble Messenger ( s ) concerned with political issues? He ( ‘a ) used to establish a government; he ( s ) used to resist those who were anti-Islam and oppressed the people; he ( s ) used to wage war against them.[457] It was not only the Most Noble Messenger ( s ) who used to engage in politics in this sense; the aspect of politics was there in all the prophets ( ‘a ).

Because, politics means ensuring the interests of the people, and the prophets ( ‘a ) used to perform this duty in the best manner. Politics means guiding the society and showing the way; it means considering all the interests of the society, and taking into account all aspects of man and society and guiding them toward the things that are best for them, for the nation and the individuals.

This is exclusive to the prophets ( ‘a ).[458] Politics in this sense has been the principal axis of movement of all the prophets ( ‘a ) and no religion can be regarded as alien and distant from it. But, the most essential element of politics is power. However, power is something that is frightening. It misleads man as well as disenchants him, that the nature of power corrupts man.

A person who feels powerful rebels, and forgets himself, as well as his being a servant of God, and nourishes an illusion of godhood. The story of Pharaoh is not a mere historical account. Everybody has a ‘Pharaoh” within himself and awaits a favourable opportunity and situation to beat the drum of divinity for himself.

François Mitterrand, the former President of France who spent his life in obtaining, preserving and extending power, says about this phenomenon, “I think that power is always a dreadful thing; the one who possesses power should—if not fear—be at least extraordinarily heedful of the nature and extent of his particular role.”[459] Power is prone to excesses and does not stop at a certain point.

If the instinct of power-seeking is given free rein, its expansion and spread, then, can no longer be prevented.