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- Title
Ayatollah Khomeini and the Concepts of Wilayah and Walayah.
- Authors
Matsumoto, Akiro
- Abstract
Ayatollah Khomeini's revolutionary thought is built upon the mystical philosophy of being. Ayatollah Khomeini is commonly regarded to have ceased study of mysticism in his early academic career. However, through analysis of his writings, it becomes clear that the essential part of his revolutionary ideas originates from his philosophical thought, a transcendental philosophy which has been elaborated by many Islamic mystics. In turn, this transcendental philosophy was influenced by the historical discourse regarding the concepts of wilayah and walayah, a discourse which traces back to the early years of the Islamic era and to two divergent Qur'anic readings. Through tracing the debate over wilayah and walayah in Qur'anic exegesis, transcendental philosophy, and Islamic mysticism, and the subsequent emergence of the concept of the 'perfect man' from this backdrop, I will show how the fruits of this debate enabled Khomeini to provide a philosophical (rather than purely jurisprudential) explanation for his interpretation of wilayat al-faqih - an interpretation with cosmogonic implications. I will also attempt to explain why Imam Khomeini referred to wilayat al-faqih as a 'duty' of the jurists, rather than just as a 'right'.
- Subjects
KHOMEINI, Ruhollah, 1902-1989; WILAYAT al-faqih; MYSTICISM; COSMOGONY; ONTOLOGY; JURISPRUDENCE; ISLAM; MUSLIMS; HADITH
- Publication
Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies, 2010, Vol 3, Issue 1, p5
- ISSN
1748-9423
- Publication type
Article