During the occultation of the Imam the leadership of the Muslim lies with the one who is the most similar to the Imam in knowledge regarding the religion, piety and virtue. The Quran guides as to whom we should choose as a leader.
The guardianship of the jurists or Wilayat e Faqih means that during the occultation of the twelfth imam the jurists having the required qualifications should take over the responsibility of leading the Muslim community. In Islam it is the divine law that rules. In this type of government, governance is the prerogative of God and only He has the right to choose who should govern. Islamic laws or divine ordinances are incumbent upon all and no one is an exception. The Quran explains the qualifications required for the leadership of the society:
1- Islam and faith
لَّا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّـهِ فِي شَيْءٍ
"Let not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah".[1]
2- Justice
وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ
"And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire".[2]
قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
"[Allah] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allah] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."[3]
3- Being an expert in religion
The leader of the Muslims should be aware of the Islamic rulings to implement them and realize Islamic purposes. When the Prophet (PBUH) or the Imam is in charge of the society he acquires this knowledge from God. During the occultation age, one who takes up this responsibility should be the most knowledgeable regarding Islamic rulings. In this regard the Quran says:
أَفَمَن يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَن يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّن لَّا يَهِدِّي إِلَّا أَن يُهْدَىٰ فَمَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
"So is He who guides to the truth worthier to be followed or he who guides not unless he is guided? Then what is [wrong] with you - how do you judge?"[4]
A pious, just and knowledgeable person is the most similar person to the Imam, so he is better qualified than everyone else to take up the responsibility of leading the Muslim community. The Quran referring to the Israelite scholars says:
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ يَحْكُمُ بِهَا النَّبِيُّونَ الَّذِينَ أَسْلَمُوا لِلَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَالْأَحْبَارُ بِمَا اسْتُحْفِظُوا مِن كِتَابِ اللَّـهِ وَكَانُوا عَلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءَ
"Indeed, we sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto".[5]
The Quran also says:إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهَا
"Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due".[6]
The leadership of the Muslim society is a trust passed down from the infallibles to people of future centuries until the Imam himself reappears –may God hasten that- and till then the best people entitled to it are those who are the most similar to the Imam in understanding the religion, virtue, piety and righteousness.
Footnotes:
[1] 3:28.
[2] 11:113.
[3] 2:124.
[4] 10:35.
[5] 5:44.
[6] 4:58.
Source: http://www.pasokhgoo.ir/node/185