"Shūrā" and Conditional Maximalist Political Participation (Delegative-Agential)

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

hūrā is a central concept in political science and in the political-thematic exegesis of the Qur’an, closely linked to political participation. The principal research question is: What is the nature of Shūrā in the Qur’an, and which interpretive approach best reflects the Qur’an’s preferred method? Drawing on thematic exegesis, this study hypothesizes that Shūrā is a concept from which political participation can be derived and critically examined, and that it can be assessed within modern theoretical frameworks. On this basis, it is argued that, from a Qur’anic perspective, Shūrā—understood as an affirmed (imdā’ī) concept distinct from mere consultation—entails a form of obligation, particularly in the public-political sphere during the occultation of the Infallible. From this standpoint, it constitutes a foundational pillar of a conditional-maximal (Delegative–Agential) approach to political participation. The Delegative– Agential approach to the Qur’anic verses on Shūrā and political participation acknowledges divine appointment (nass and nasb) in the selection of leadership while affirming the role of public political participation. Consultation with the people or their representatives is not merely decorative; rather, consultation is necessary, and adherence to its outcomes is, in principle, obligatory. Thus, in the era of occultation, public political participation and consultation with the populace are essential both in selecting leadership and in political decisionmaking—provided that certain preconditions are mandatorily observed. The legitimacy of the formation and continuity of a religious government is intrinsically tied to this principle.

Keywords

Shūrā

Political Participation

Conditional Maximal (Delegative&ndash

Agential) Political Participation

Political-Thematic Interpretation of the Qur&rsquo

Subjects