Preface
The Holy Quran, like a radiant lamp, guides mankind towards truth and perfection. Within its luminous verses lie profound concepts interwoven into the fabric of human religious and social life. Among these concepts are ministry and sanctity, which are beautifully manifested in the verses of Surahs Taha and Furqan. This treatise, relying upon divine verses and authentic narrations, explores these two fundamental concepts and elucidates their position within the Islamic system. Ministry, like a powerful arm, bears the heavy burden of the mission and the administration of societal affairs, while sanctity, like a divine breeze, connects the souls of places and people to the light of truth. With a deep insight into the verses and the words of religious scholars, this work endeavours to convey these concepts in a clear and dignified language to seekers of knowledge.
The concept of ministry in the Holy Quran is not merely indicative of a governmental position but rather manifests as profound responsibility in the realms of religion and society. This concept is clearly expounded in the verses of Surahs Taha and Furqan, with reference to the story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and Aaron (peace be upon him), as well as in narrations related to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). Ministry is portrayed as a bridge linking divine guidance to its practical implementation within society.
وَاجْعَلْ لِي وَزِيرًا مِنْ أَهْلِي هَارُونَ أَخِي اشْدُدْ بِهِ أَزْرِي وَأَشْرِكْهُ فِي أَمْرِي
Appoint for me a minister from my family Aaron, my brother. Strengthen my back with him, and share with him my affair.
In these verses (Taha 2932), Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) requests from God a minister from his own kin to assist him in the heavy divine mission. These verses introduce ministry not only as cooperation in executive matters but also as participation in the great burden of religion and propagation.
The request by Moses (peace be upon him) to appoint Aaron as his minister is indicative of the need for a faithful and obedient companion in the path of the prophetic mission. Aaron, as a steadfast arm, is not merely a supporter but a partner in the divine cause. This partnership implies the delegation of some divine responsibilities accompanied by complete obedience and harmony.
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا مَعَهُ أَخَاهُ هَارُونَ وَزِيرًا
And We gave Moses the Book and made his brother Aaron a minister with him.
This verse (Furqan 74) further confirms the concept, portraying Aarons ministry as divinely ordained and aligned with the implementation of the heavenly scripture. Here, the minister is not merely an assistant but a participant in the execution of the divine mission, elevating ministry from a merely executive role to a religious and spiritual station.
In authentic narrations, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) referred to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as his minister, heir, and caliph during the invitation to the tribe. This narration, found in historical sources such as Tarikh al-Tabari and Sharh Nahj al-Balagha, states:
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Who among you will assist me in this matter to be my minister, my brother, my heir, and my caliph among you? Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) replied: It is I, O Prophet of God; I will be your minister. The Prophet embraced him and said: This is my brother, my heir, and my caliph among you; therefore, listen to him and obey him.
This narration introduces ministry as a position transcending worldly affairs, serving the religious mission. Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), like a steadfast pillar, shoulders the burden of propagation and religion alongside the Prophet. This selection underscores the importance of loyalty, commitment, and coordination in the office of ministry.
In the Islamic system, ministry is defined as delegated (tanfi), meaning that the minister is subordinate to the Wali (guardian or authority), and his powers are confined within the limits set by the Wilayah. Unlike delegated (tafw) ministries observed in some historical systems such as during the Abbasid era, in the Islamic system, a minister cannot act arbitrarily or enact laws independently. This feature acts as a rope connecting the minister to the Wali, preventing tyranny and absolutism.
Ministry in the Islamic system is delegated (tanfi), not discretionary (tafw). The minister, as a loyal assistant to the Wali, operates only within the prescribed frameworks and refrains from any fo
