Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD student in Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran (Corresponding Author)
3
Associate Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Islamic Law, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.
Abstract
The issue of interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims in contemporary Islamic societies has long been addressed within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence, particularly in relation to governance and public authority. A central jurisprudential question concerns the permissibility of non-Muslims assuming public offices within Islamic political systems, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Adopting a descriptive analytical method, this study examines the jurisprudential foundations governing the political rights of officially recognized religious minorities and evaluates the scope of their eligibility for public office from the perspective of Imami jurisprudence. An examination of Shi‘i juridical sources demonstrates that principles such as the presumption of non-authority (aṣl ʿadam al-wilāyah) and the rule of nafy al-sabīl constitute fundamental constraints on granting governing authority to non-Muslims, particularly in positions involving direct guardianship, decision-making, or sovereignty over Muslims. Conversely, jurisprudential principles such as the presumption of permissibility (aṣl al-ibāḥah), justice, equality before the law, and ethical considerations allow for a limited recognition of political participation in non-authoritative domains. Within the jurisprudential and constitutional structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, these principles are harmonized in a manner that restricts positions of direct wilāyah such as senior judicial authority and military command to Muslims, while permitting the engagement of religious minorities in administrative, executive, and specialized roles that do not entail jurisdiction over Muslims. This study concludes that the Iranian Islamic system, while adhering to the foundational doctrines of wilāyah and Sharia-centered governance, accommodates a defined and jurisprudentially justified scope of participation for religious minorities, thereby preserving the integrity of Islamic authority while contributing to social stability and juridical coherence.
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