Ma`rifat Siyasi

Allamah Tabatabai, one of the great scholars of the Islamic world in the fields of philosophy, mysticism, exegesis, and jurisprudence, has written important discussions concerning major social and political issues of the Islamic world, especially the issue of leadership and authority. In this article, using a qualitative approach based on library research and description and analysis of data, we show that from Allamah's perspective, during the presence of the Infallible Imam, the Imam himself, as the vicegerent of God, must rule. During the period of his occultation (ghaybah), the person who is the most proximate and similar to the Infallible Imam, who is the most elite and distinguished individual in society, must rule. This person, who is at the highest levels of piety, is a jurist (faqīh) regarding knowledge of God's rulings, and is insightful, competent, and courageous in terms of awareness of world conditions and the interests of the people. In Allamah Tabatabai's view, he represents the prime example of the most elite individual in society and the person most proximate to the Infallible Imam and is qualified for leadership and governance.