investigation into the concept of justice in the school of thought of ancient Iran and the Islamic thought based on teachings of Nahj al-Balagha; Modeling the Islamic revolution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Political Science Department, Mazandaran University, Babolsar

2 Postdoctoral Researcher of Political Thoughts (West, Islam and Iran), Mazandaran University, Babolsar

Abstract
Justice has been a significant part of topics of Islamic thought and different schools of thought and various figures have addressed it from different perspectives ( statement of the problem). Understanding the status of justice in social and political arenas is significant, since its implementation and establishment in society guarantees the realization of people’s true happiness and achievement of a good and optimal society (purpose of the study). Thus, the study aims to find an answer to a basic question: regarding the centrality of the concept of justice in ancient Iran’s school of thought and Islamic thought, how can its relation be theoretically and conceptually formulated- especially, based on Imam Ali’s thoughts recorded in His book, Nahj al-Balagha - and how can it be analyzed from different aspects? (Research question). The descriptive- analytical method and library resources, as well as, the hermeneutic model of Leo Strauss’s text- oriented cryptography were used (methodology). The findings indicate that the concept of justice in ancient Iran’s school of thought is logically related to concepts such as truth Asa, king’s grandeur Xvarnah, and functionality svadharma . In fact, it means being aligned with truth (اشه)– the order of existence and cosmic law. In Nahj al-Balagha, with reference to authentic Islamic resources, justice is closely related to the word Qast in the Quran. From the social perspective, a grandiose king defines justice as security as well as protection of cosmic order and equilibrium of existence. However, based on Nahj al-Balagha teachings, justice has intrinsic value, and is defined as the public policy, which can be inferred as social justice as well (findings of the study).

Keywords

Subjects

The Holy Quran
Nahj al-Balagha
Avesta: The Oldest Iranian Hymns and Texts. (2009). Report and Research by Jalil Dostkhah, Tehran: Morvarid.
Balazri, Abul-Hasan Ahmad ibn Yahya. (1408 AH). Ansab al-Ashraf, Haqqeh and Qadam al-Suhail Zakkar, Beirut: Dar al-Fikr.
Polladi, Kamal. (2018). In the Desire of the System of the Father: Iranian Cosmology and Political Thought, Tehran: Markaz Publication.
Polladi, Kamal. (2017). History of Political Thought in the West: Twentieth Century, Tehran: Markaz.
Javadi Amoli, Abdullah. (2009). Velayat al-Faqih: Velayat al-Jurisprudence and Justice, Qom: Israa.
Haghighat, Seyyed Sadeq. (2015). Methodology of Political Sciences, Qom: Mofid University.
Khoramshad, Mohammad Baqir; Ruhollah, Islamic. (2013). "The Rise and Fall of Governmentality in the Sasanian Era (Tansar and Ardeshir Babakan's Letter)", Contemporary Political Essays, 4(8), pp. 1-26, DOI:<10.22081/PSQ.2019.67400>.
Dilshad Tehrani, Mustafa. (2018). Wise Governance: The Government of Imam Ali (AS), the Successful Government of History, Tehran: Darya.
Raghib al-Isfahani. (1416 AH). Al-Mufradat fi Gharib al-Quran, Damascus: Dar al-Shamiyah.
Rajaee, Farhang. (1993). The Development of Political Thought in the Ancient East, Tehran: Qoms.
Rezvani, Mohsen. (2014). Islamic Political Philosophy in the West, Qom: Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute.
Seyyed Bagheri, Seyyed Kazem; Mahmoud Mokhtarband. (2019). "Continuity of Justice and Moderation in Islamic Political Ethics with Emphasis on the Alawi Way of Life", Quarterly Journal of Political Sciences, Volume 22, Issue 85, pp. 25-46, DOI:<.10.22081/PSQ.2019.67400>
Tabatabai, Mohammad Hossein. (1983). Tafsir al-Mizan, Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Mousavi Hamedani, Vol. 1 and 24, Qom: Qom Seminary Teachers' Association.
Tabatabai, Seyyed Javad. (2010). Khwaja Nizam al-Mulk Tusi: Speech on the Cultural Continuity of Iran, Tehran: Menui Khrad.
Fairhi, Davud. (2009). Political System and State in Islam, Tehran: Samt.
Kaykha, Najmeh. (2010). Social Justice, Tehran: Kanun Andisheh Javan.
Mojtabaei, Fathullah. (2010). Plato's Beautiful City and the Ideal King in Ancient Iran, Tehran: Hermes.
Motahari, Morteza. (1979). Divine Justice, Tehran: Islamic Publications.
Motahari, Morteza. (1990). A Journey in Nahj al-Balagha, Tehran: Sadra.
Henning, Walter Bruno. (1991). Zoroaster, Politician or Magician, translated by Kamran Fani, Tehran: Moein.
Izutsu, Toshihiko(2002). Ethiqo- Religious Concepts in the Quran, Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press.
Khadduri, Majid(1984). The Islamic Conception of Justice, The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Lakhani, Ali(2006). The Metaphysics of Human Governance: Imam Ali, Truth and Justice, World Wisdom, pp.3-61.
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim(2005). Philosophical and Theological Writings, London: Cambridge University Press.
Nasr, Seyyed Hossien(1972). Ideeals and Realitied of Islam, Boston: Beacon Press.
Strauss, Leo (1995). Philosophy and Law: Contributions to the Understanding of Maimonides and His Predecessors, translated with an Introduction by Eve Adler, Albany: State University of New York press.
Strauss, Leo (2012). Leo Strauss On Moses Mendelsshon, Chicago: University Of Chicago Press.
Strauss, Leo (1980). Persecution and the Art of Writing, USA: UCP.
Shah-kazemi, Reza (2006). a sacred conception of justice: Imam Alis lerrer to Malik Al-Ashter in: sacred foundation of justice in Islam, Bloomington: Indiana University.
Yamani, Ahmad Zaki (2002). Social Justice in Islam, Islamic Studies, Vol.41, No.1 (Spring), pp. 5-34.
Zaho, ke(2024). Leo Strauss's Reading of Spinoza and the Art of "be Alert to the Art of Writing", Athens Journal of Philosophy, Vol.X, No.Y, pp.1-14, doi.org/10.30958/ajphil.X-Y-Z.
Zaehner, Robert. Charles (1956). The Teaching of the Magi, London: Allen and Unwin.