The triumph of the Islamic revolution of Iran in February1979 baffled and continues to baffle many. The introduction of a religious dimension into contemporary politics challenged present day understandings of the human condition in ways that have called into question much of the basic modern premises of secularism. The Revolution tended to be perceived largely in light of the preconceptions and predispositions of observers rather than as something original and unique — sui generis. Many failed to see the Revolution as a phenomenon that is to be understood and comprehended from within its own dynamics and on its own terms, rather than in terms of mere Western social science categories, insightful as they may be. Consequently, varied designations were and continue to be attributed to the Iranian regime ranging from it being a form of anachronistic theocracy, to being pejoratively referred to as the rule of the mullahs or a religious dictatorship.
Yet at the heart of this Islamic phenomenon is a creative theory of government and leadership which sought to tackle the recurring issue of legitimacy and the question of who is entitled to rule