Ma`rifat

This text is a transcribed discourse by Allameh Mesbah Yazdi concerning the role of the Islamic government in securing the rights of the disadvantaged and the oppressed. It was previously established that the rationale for the necessity of a government in society is the need to fulfill requirements that cannot be met by individuals. If no official institution possessing adequate authority, budget, and capacity fulfills these needs, the society will trend toward weakness and ultimately, decline. Naturally, political philosophers hold differing viewpoints regarding matters such as the number of these needs and whether they are fixed or variable. Furthermore, these needs vary based on the changing conditions of societies. Generally, providing internal security (preventing transgressions among members of the society itself) and external security (preventing aggression from foreign enemies) are among the most crucial duties of a government. From the perspective of Islam, the most important thing is providing for spiritual and otherworldly needs, which includes recognizing religious truths and eliminating doubts and obstacles that arise against the perpetuation and development of religion. Unfortunately, some serious deviations and unresolved disagreements among political thinkers throughout history have found their way into Islamic countries and influence individuals involved in policy-making and societal management. This article elaborates in detail on the mission of the Islamic government in securing the rights of the disadvantaged.