Research Article

Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran

Volume: 10 Number: 1 March 26, 2025
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Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

This article explores the theoretical and practical dimensions of Islamic constitutionalism, questioning its feasibility within modern state frameworks. It first examines two major perspectives in legal thought on the compatibility of Islamic principles with constitutional values. The first viewpoint, represented by scholars like Kamali and Quraishi-Landes, argues that Islam inherently supports principles like democracy, rule of law, and the separation of powers. The second perspective, advocated by El-Fadl, Hamoudi, and Emon, highlights fundamental differences, suggesting that Islamic law is often incompatible with Western constitutionalism. The article suggests that perspectives on Islamic and Western constitutional compatibility may oversimplify the unique philosophical foundations of Islamic governance. In contrast, a more nuanced approach highlights the deep-seated tensions between pre-modern Islamic concepts and modern constitutional frameworks, which are illustrated in the Iranian case. The article then analyses Iran as a case study, focusing on the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the Iranian Constitution. Through an in-depth examination of the "velayat-e faqih" concept, it explores the interplay between Islamic doctrine and state governance. Ultimately, the article suggests that Islamic governance in Iran has transformed from a religious doctrine into a form of modern political ideology, where Sharia functions more as a state tool than a constitutional foundation.

Keywords

References

  1. ARJOMAND, Said, Constitutional Politics in the Middle East, Hart Publishing, 2009.
  2. AZIZAY, Y. al-Hibri, “Islamic Constitutionalism and the Concept of Democracy”, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, C. 24, p. 28-38, 1992.
  3. BAYAT, Asef, “Revolution Without Movement, Movement Without Revolution: Comparing Islamic Activism in Iran and Egypt”, Comparative Studies in Society and History, C. 40, p. 136-169, 1998.
  4. BERMAN, Harold, Law and Revolution, Harvard University Press, 1983.
  5. COTRAN, Eugene / SHARIF, Adel Omar, Democracy, the Rule of Law and Islam, Kluwer Law International, 1999. CUDSI, Alexander / DESSOUKI, Ali., Islam and Power, Routledge, 2013.
  6. GROTE, Rainer / RÖDER, Tilmann, Constitutionalism in Islamic Countries, Oxford University Press, 2012.
  7. HAIRI, Abdul-Hadi, Shi'ism and Constitutionalism in Iran, EJ Brill, 1977.
  8. HALLAQ, Wael B., The Origins and Evolution of Islamic Law, Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Law and Humanities

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 26, 2025

Submission Date

November 9, 2024

Acceptance Date

December 18, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 10 Number: 1

APA
Mutlu, İ. (2025). Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 10(1), 171-188. https://doi.org/10.58733/imhfd.1582222
AMA
1.Mutlu İ. Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi. 2025;10(1):171-188. doi:10.58733/imhfd.1582222
Chicago
Mutlu, İsmail. 2025. “Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran”. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 10 (1): 171-88. https://doi.org/10.58733/imhfd.1582222.
EndNote
Mutlu İ (March 1, 2025) Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 10 1 171–188.
IEEE
[1]İ. Mutlu, “Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran”, İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 171–188, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.58733/imhfd.1582222.
ISNAD
Mutlu, İsmail. “Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran”. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi 10/1 (March 1, 2025): 171-188. https://doi.org/10.58733/imhfd.1582222.
JAMA
1.Mutlu İ. Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi. 2025;10:171–188.
MLA
Mutlu, İsmail. “Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran”. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 10, no. 1, Mar. 2025, pp. 171-88, doi:10.58733/imhfd.1582222.
Vancouver
1.İsmail Mutlu. Islamic Constitutionalism in Theory and Practice: The Case of Islamic Republic of Iran. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi. 2025 Mar. 1;10(1):171-88. doi:10.58733/imhfd.1582222