The lacuna of authority created with the collapse of government is a difficulty that is seldom addressed in Islamic political writings. Overwhelmingly, Islamic political writings either focus on issues of statecraft, such as found in the works of al-Mawardi (d. 450/1058) and al-Baqillani (d. 402/ 1013), or focus on advice for king as enunciated by Ibn al-Muqaffa (d. 139/756) and Niz&dotbelow;am al-Mulk (d. 485/1092). All of these writings presuppose a continuity of the state and thus do not offer any solutions for a weakened state that is precipitously tending towards collapse. However, one theologian and jurist, Abu Ma'ili al-Juwayni (d. 478/1085) undertakes this precise issue in his political treatise al-Ghiyath al-Umam (Savior of the Nations).

Using al-Ghiyath al-Umam as an exposition of his political ideology, this study aims to elucidate both al-Juwayni's pronouncements on the role and objective of the Islamic community in the absence of government, and more generally, al-Juwayni's notion of politics that enables the continuity of coherent societal structures irrespective of the absence of government. What emerges from this close textual analysis is that although al-Juwayni constructs certain ideals with regards to government, he is willing to renege on certain criteria based on context and stability which preclude their fulfillment. As a result, al-Juwayni focuses less on specific rules and regulations with regards to government and focuses more on political values. The values which are central to his philosophy are allegiance, stability and cooperation, and all three work in tandem to create a legitimate state structure. By separating political values from politics proper, al-Juwayni is able to legitimize the absence of government by embodying his political virtues in a variety of social and religious institutions which continue. The result is that al-Juwayni's political thought, while offering a window into the historical context in which he is writing, is able to transcend his time to continue to be relevant in modern society.