Title Meaning:
The Urdu / Persian / Arabic title Islami Jamhoori ka Dastoori Dhancha aur is kay Musādir Quwāt can be translated roughly as “The Constitutional Structure of Islamic Democracy and Its Sources of Power.” It refers to how an Islamic political system should be organized constitutionally, and where its legitimate powers come from, according to al-Ṣadr.
Author:
Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Ṣadr was a prominent Iraqi Shia scholar, philosopher, jurist, and political activist.
He is known for combining Islamic theological insight with modern political and economic theory.
Core Idea / Thesis:
Al-Ṣadr argues that the only meaningful solution to modern social, economic, and political problems is to establish an Islamic political system — one in which Islam (Sharia) is the supreme law, and in which political authority is derived from Islamic sources.
He does not simply advocate for a theocratic dictatorship, but for a constitutional form of governance rooted in Islamic principles.
Sources of Power (Musādir Quwāt):
In this work, al-Ṣadr discusses “[sources of] power” in an Islamic state. These sources are not arbitrary or purely secular; rather, they are derived from:
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Divine Sovereignty (Ḥākimiyya): The belief that true sovereignty belongs to God, and that the state must legislate according to divine law.
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Religious Authority: The role of jurists (fuqahāʾ) and possibly the infallible Imams (in Shia thought) as part of authority in interpreting and applying Islamic law.
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Ijtihād / Jurisprudential Reasoning: He emphasizes the importance of ijtihād — the process of legal reasoning by scholars — in governance. This allows for legitimacy in dealing with new issues not directly addressed by foundational texts.
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Constitutional Principles: While Islamic, his model supports a constitutional framework — meaning that power is not absolute but structured, regulated, and constrained by certain fundamental principles.
Political Program / System:
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Al-Ṣadr sees the Islamic state not just as a religious ideal but as a practical, political project.
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He envisions a constitutional Islamic democracy, where rights and duties are clearly defined, and the state acts in a way that reflects Islamic justice and values.
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In his system, the state has four main responsibilities, according to one analysis: (1) to reveal fixed divine laws (ahkām thābita), (2) to legislate within the bounds of Sharia, (3) to administer justice, and (4) to ensure socio-economic welfare.
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He also argues for socio-economic justice: in his view, wealth distribution, property rights, and economic policy must conform to Islamic ethics, not simply capitalist or socialist paradigms.
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Historical / Political Context:
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Al-Ṣadr was active in Iraq and founded the Islamic Dawa Party.
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His political thought developed in the context of mid-20th century challenges: secularism, Communism, colonialism, and the struggle for an authentically Islamic governance model.
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Some scholars describe his vision as “Islamic democracy”, rather than a purely authoritarian Islamic state or a liberal secular democracy.
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Significance & Influence:
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Al-Ṣadr’s political ideas remain influential in modern Islamic political thought, especially among Shi’a intellectuals and Islamist movements.
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His integration of jurisprudence, democracy, and constitutionalism provides a "third way" between secular democracy and theocracy.
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His work is studied in political science, Islamic studies, and modern Islamic movements as a key model for constructing an Islamic political order.
