There is a current maxim in books of jurisprudence labeled as the ‘prohibition of cooperation in sin and aggression’ which has its root in the second verse of the Surat al-MÁidah. However, the maxim is, in fact, part of a universal (general) maxim designated as ‘cooperation’ which has not been fully taken into consideration as a result of a false conception of the whole content or implication of the verse, or rather, because of partial view of its content. In other words, only part of the verse has been brought into focus, which does not give a full view of the whole content of the verse. This problem, which is caused by a personal view of the jurisprudential arguments and rules, has brought about a misconception or a narrow conception of the arguments so that some of these arguments have been the subject of refutation. In this article, an attempt has been made to explore the functions and capabilities of the maxim of cooperation by studying it from the perspective of governmental jurisprudence. Furthermore, functions of the maxim are studied at four levels: formation of religious government, establishment of revolutionary institutions and organizations and lending support to them, legislation and personal obligations.
