The Jurisprudential Principle of "Obligation to Venerate Religious Symbols" as a Strategy for Preserving Artistic Heritage

Historical artworks, as embodiments of a nation's cultural, artistic, and historical legacy, are typically safeguarded by governments through various means. Within Islamic contexts, some artifacts reflect the golden age of Islamic civilizations and manifest Islamic teachings, while others originate from tyrannical, corrupt regimes opposed to divine values. This study examines whether jurisprudential principles - particularly the obligation to venerate religious symbols (تعظیم شعائر) - can yield a legal mandate for preserving artistic works. Through library research and analytical-descriptive methodology, the paper investigates how this principle, coupled with its corollary prohibition against desecrating sacred entities (حرمت اهانت به مقدسات), might extend to artistic preservation when such works are classified as religious symbols. Findings indicate that while the principle cannot universally mandate art preservation, it certainly applies to specific categories of religiously significant artworks. Moreover, the study establishes that preservation aligns with the minimal assured desirable (قدر متیقن) under Sharia. Crucially, the research highlights that governmental institutions bear equal (if not greater) responsibility as individuals in fulfilling this jurisprudential obligation toward artistic conservation.