The scholars of both Islamic groups offer extensive proofs...

The scholars of both Islamic groups offer extensive proofs from the Book (Qur’an) and Sunnah to support the idea of the need for the establishment of government and management of the affairs of society.

Here are some examples: In his book, Al-Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah , Abu’l-Hasan al-Mawardi says: "الإمامة موضوعة لخلافة النبوة في حراسة والدين سياسة الدنيا عقدها لمن يقوم بها في الأمة واجب بالأجماع." Imamah has been laid to succeed the prophethood { nubuwwah } and to safeguard the religion and manage the affairs of this world, and pledging loyalty to the one who undertakes it is obligatory according to the consensus of the ummah .[^4] This Muslim scholar, who is one of the renowned ‘ulama’ of the Ahl as-Sunnah, presents both rational and religious proofs to support this idea.

The following is his rational proof: "لما في طباع العقلاء من التسليم لزعيم يمنعهم من التظالم ويفصل بينهم في التنازع والتخاصم ولولا الولاة لكانوا فوضب مهملين وهمجاً مضاعين." It is the nature of wise peple to follow a leader so that he may prevent them from oppressing one another and settle their problems at the time of dispute. And if it were not for the rulers, the people would have live in chaos like lose savages.

^5 His religious proof is as follows: ولكن جاء الشرع بتفويض الأمور إلى وليّه في ، الدين قال الله عز وجل: يأيها الذين ءامنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم. ففرض علينا طاعة أولي الأمر فينا هم الأئمة المتامرن علينا. But religious law is intended to entrust the affairs to a religious authority. God, the Honorable and Glorious, says: ‘O you who have faith!

Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you.’ [^6] Thus, God has made it incumbent upon us to obey those who are vested with authority and such people are our leaders and rulers.[^7] Shaykh as-Saduq narrates on the authority of Fadl ibn Shadhan something attributed to Imam ‘Ali ibn Musa ar-Rida ( ‘a ). This sublime narration includes the Imam’s words regarding the necessity of establishing a government.

Below is an excerpt from his speech: "إنا لا نجد فرقة من الفرق ولا ملة من الملل وبقوا عاشوا إلا بقيم ورئيس لما لا بد لهم منه من أمر والدين والدنيا فلم يجز في حكمة الحكيم أن يترك الخلق لما يعلم أنه لا بد لهم منه ولا قوم لهم إلا به فيقاتلون به عدوّهم ويقسمون به فيئهم ويقيمون به وجمعتهم وجماعتهم ويمنع طالمنهم من مظلومهم." We do not find any group or community that has been able to survive without a ruler and leader because they need a ruler for managing both religious and worldly affairs.