Machine summary:
I shall first discuss the attitude of the Sunni jurists, philosophers, and statesmen towards the Imam or Caliph, for they represent orthodox ideas which mostly dominated Medieval Islam.
I have discussed in this short article the political ideas of all the important Muslim sects-Sunnis, 'Shl'as, Kharijites, Isma'Ilites and Carmathians.
because he wanted to prevent rebellions which were sure to lead to dis• astrous results for the moral, social, and religious life of the Muslims, and which would break the unity of Islam; second, because he realized that without an Imam the Muslim community would be living in sin.
On the other hand, owing to the influence of the autocratic traditions of the Persian empire, and because of the necessity to suppress the rebellions of Kharijites and Shi'as, political thinkers were led to invest the Caliphs with more and more powers.
Besides, because of their experiences of civil war and rebellions, the jurists and philosophers began to consider even a wicked ruler better than the destruction of government, for the collapse of authority would lead to complete anarchy, and the breaking up of the unity o_f Islam ; while even a weak governmen~ would at least give some material and religious security to the .
The reason why the later Muslim jurists conferred unlimited powers upon the Caliph was not because they desired the glorification of the rulers, but because they realized that there was no other way of maintain• ing law and order and enforcing the Shari'a.