Ma`rifat Farhangi Ejtemaei

People's acceptance of the guardianship of jurist has a historical trend and most efforts to present it to society began from the Mongol period which was simultaneous with the downfall of the caliphate governments in which such great scholars like Shahid Awwal, Khaja Nasir al-Din Tusi, Allameh Helli and others played a major role.The public became familiar with this issue more and more with the victory of the Usulyya( fundamentalists) during the Qajari period and political - religious guardianship of scholars was established during the Qajari government. In the Tobacco and Constitutional movement, guardianship of jurist became pervasive and international. The Islamic Revolution of Iran represents a perfect example of guardianship of jurist whose social foundations were established by former scholars. Having influence in the Mongols' rule and then making the Mongol's ruler convert to Shi'ism, exercising authority, in the Shi'ah governments of Saffavids and having an active role in the community, Shiah scholars were able to introduce to society the idea of guardianship of jurist along with the political guardianship of governors.