Which principle did Khomeini invoke to justify his power?

Which principle did Khomeini invoke to justify his power?

• A. Divine right of kings
• B. Constitutional monarchy
• C. Separation of powers
• D. Jurists' guardianship

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how religious authority can justify political power. Khomeini argued that ultimate authority in Iran should rest with a Islamic jurist who has guardianship over the state to ensure governance follows divine law. This belief is known as the jurists' guardianship (vilayat-e faqih). It provided a theological foundation for the state’s leadership, making the Supreme Leader the ultimate authority who oversees lawmaking, governance, and the interpretation of Islamic law, even with elected institutions in place. This stands in contrast to divine right of kings (where authority comes from God granted to a monarch), constitutional monarchy (a monarch with powers limited by a constitution and shared with elected bodies), or separation of powers (dividing government into distinct branches with checks and balances). The jurists' guardianship centers political legitimacy in the authority of a senior Islamic jurist, unifying religious and political authority under one figure to ensure obedience to Islamic principles.

The idea being tested is how religious authority can justify political power. Khomeini argued that ultimate authority in Iran should rest with a Islamic jurist who has guardianship over the state to ensure governance follows divine law. This belief is known as the jurists' guardianship (vilayat-e faqih). It provided a theological foundation for the state’s leadership, making the Supreme Leader the ultimate authority who oversees lawmaking, governance, and the interpretation of Islamic law, even with elected institutions in place.

This stands in contrast to divine right of kings (where authority comes from God granted to a monarch), constitutional monarchy (a monarch with powers limited by a constitution and shared with elected bodies), or separation of powers (dividing government into distinct branches with checks and balances). The jurists' guardianship centers political legitimacy in the authority of a senior Islamic jurist, unifying religious and political authority under one figure to ensure obedience to Islamic principles.