The belief of Shias concerning Islamic Political System/Government

I'm not able to add any references due to a lack of time. I may revisit this topic in the future to update the post and insert proper references

The following statements briefly describe the belief of Shias concerning Islamic Political System/Government headed by the Ahl al Bayt

• A legitimate Islamic government must be lead/head either by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) or his successors among the ahl al Bayt.
• The Shias believe the Holy Prophet (pbuh) named all his successors before his passing away. The first was Imam Ali and the last Imam Mahdi.
• The Shias also believe that the Prophet's successors (Imams) are divinely selected and inspired. These Imams are infallible (sinless) based on some verses of the Holy Quran and Prophetic traditions.
• The Shias believe most of the Imams were unfairly forced out of the political process. The Imams were oppressed and killed due to them being perceived as legitimate challenger to the corrupt monarchies and dynastic rulers of their time.
• Shias believe all the Imams after Imam Hussayn (as) kept away from politics and did not embrace nor promote anyone else for the role of leadership of the Islamic Ummah (Muslim Empire)
• The Shias are waiting for the twelfth Imam (Imam al-Mahdi) to make his appearance, rid the world of evil and rule based on justice and the pure uncorrupted teaching of Islam. The Sunnis are also waiting for Imam Mahdi but they believe he’s some random guy not at all connected to the Shia Imam.

That’s not all.

In addition, we may also find a number of tradition/hadiths that speaks about all the corrupt governments before the re-appearance of Imam al-Mahdi(aj) and the responsibility of the Shias in the time of occultation

• The Shias must not established governments/political systems
• The Shias must not participate nor support governments that are hostile to ahl al bayt
• All governments and political system before Imam’s re-appearance will be corrupt

continue reading