The General Authority of the Jurist According to Sayyid Sistani

Question

What is the general authority of the jurist according to Sayyid Sistani? [AR_ID:5346]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Sistani (may God protect him):

The authority, as expressed in the words of the jurists (may God be pleased with them), regarding matters of public interest is established for every jurist who meets the conditions of emulation. However, the broader authority concerning general matters that are essential for the Islamic community's system is granted to those jurists who meet additional conditions, including having general acceptance among the believers.

Source: Official Website.

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Ayatollah al-Uzma Sayyid Khamenei (may God protect him):

The concept of the absolute authority of the jurist who meets the conditions is that the pure Islamic religion, which is the final of the heavenly religions and will remain until the Day of Judgment, is a religion of governance and managing community affairs. Therefore, the Islamic community, in all its layers, must have a guardian, a legal ruler, and a leader to protect the nation from the enemies of Islam and Muslims, to maintain their system, to establish justice among them, to prevent the powerful from oppressing the weak, and to secure means for cultural, political, and social progress and prosperity. In practice, this may conflict with the desires, ambitions, and freedoms of some individuals; thus, the Muslim ruler, when fulfilling the leadership duties according to Islamic standards, must take necessary actions based on Islamic jurisprudence when recognizing the need for such actions and issuing the required orders. This is a brief overview of the absolute authority.

Source: Answers to Inquiries - Emulation - Authority of the Jurist and Rulings of the Ruler - Q63

May you be successful in all good.