The Role of the People in Islamic Governance (Religious Democracy): The Perspective of Imam Khamenei

Purpose: This scientific note aims to examine the role of the people in Islamic governance—often conceptualized as religious democracy—from the viewpoint of Imam Khamenei. It seeks to clarify the relationship between divine authority and popular participation within Islamic political thought.Method/Approach: The study adopts a conceptual and analytical approach grounded in Islamic political theory, focusing on the intellectual framework articulated by Imam Khamenei regarding governance, legitimacy, and public participation.Findings: The analysis demonstrates that in Islamic political thought, divine authority and popular participation are not contradictory but complementary and mutually reinforcing. God-centered governance presupposes conscious faith, voluntary participation, and moral responsibility of the people. Public religiosity, social responsibility, ethical governance, and human vicegerency (khilāfah) constitute the conceptual foundations of Islamic political legitimacy. Furthermore, popular will is essential both in the establishment and continuity of an Islamic government, while elected officials bear profound moral and practical obligations toward society.Conclusion: Islamic governance is ultimately presented as a system in which human agency, divine law, justice, and ethical accountability converge, forming an integrated model of religious democracy rooted in both divine guidance and active public participation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Islamic Governance ، Popular Participation ، Religious democracy ، Ethical Leadership ، Public Religiosity