A Comparative Study of Leadership Structures in Twelver Shia and Sunni Islam

Abstract This paper provides a comprehensive comparative study of the leadership structures in Twelver Shia and Sunni Islam, focusing particularly on the development of the concept of Wilayat al-Faqih in Shia political thought and its implementation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It also explores how ordinary believers in both traditions choose their religious guides, offers historical context for the evolution of religious leadership, and includes a side-by-side analysis of major institutional roles. The paper concludes with an integrated chart illustrating these differences.