This study investigates the relationship between dominant theological interpretations and the primary religious texts. The central question is whether government in Islam should be understood as a sacred institution or as a conventional social phenomenon.

Using qualitative content analysis of the Qur’an and Nahj al-Balagha, alongside a comparative study of classical and contemporary Shi‘i theologians, the study reveals that a significant strand of Shi‘i theology—grounded in the doctrine of lutf (divine grace)—has portrayed government as a divine necessity. Within this framework, imamate and the doctrine of infallibility are closely linked to governance. In contrast, textual evidence from the primary sources presents government largely as a worldly institution.

The findings point to an epistemic gap between theological constructions and the textual understanding of government. Accordingly, the study argues for a clear distinction between the “nature of government” and “religious evaluations of governance.” While religion may provide ethical and normative guidance for political rule, this does not necessarily render the institution of government intrinsically sacred. Such an approach enhances the possibility of critical assessment and reform of political power and offers a theoretical basis for reconstructing the concept of government in Shi‘i thought, as well as for redefining the relationship between religion and the state in the contemporary world.