Abstract

This study examines the concepts of Tamlikiyyah (proprietary monarchy) and Velayatiyyah (mandated/guardianship monarchy) through a descriptive library method from the perspective of the prominent religious jurist and political scholar, Ayatollah Naini. The aim is to examine and compare these two forms of monarchy as articulated by Allameh Naini, an influential thinker in political and social matters, and to explain his views during the political conflicts between proponents and opponents of the Iranian Constitutional Movement in the face of authoritarian rule. According to Naini, the stability of the global order and human life is inherently tied to governance and politics. He analyzes two distinct forms of monarchy: Tamlikiyyah, which he criticizes as a system of enslavement and subjugation, and Velayatiyyah, which he praises for its emphasis on public participation and liberty. Naini considers Tamlikiyyah monarchy to be founded on absolute domination and inequality, where the sovereign exercises unrestricted ownership over the country, the state fully submits to the monarch, and all governing power is concentrated in the ruler's hands. In contrast, Velayatiyyah monarchy is rooted in freedom and equality. In this form of governance, the ruler’s authority is limited to serving the public interest, and the liberation of the nation from servitude to the sovereign is paramount. Naini highlights that the governance in a Velayatiyyah system aligns with Islamic principles and is superior to despotism. Through a detailed examination of these two forms, the study concludes that Ayatollah Naini regarded Velayatiyyah monarchy as an ideal form of Islamic governance.