Sharia, Philosophy and Ethics

The Influence of Shiʿi Political Thought on the Relationship between the Sultan and the Ulama in the Qajar Era

Ahad Heyderzadeh iD , Ali Falahnejad ^* iD , Ali Fallahi Saifuddin iD

This article examines the influence of Shiʿi political thought on the relationship between the sultan and the ulama in the Qajar era. The central problem of the study is how Qajar monarchy, ruling over a predominantly Shiʿi society, depended on religious language, support for shariʿa, and interaction with the ulama in order to stabilize its authority, while the ulama, relying on religious authority, social influence, and their interpretive position regarding shariʿa, entered into a relationship with the monarchy that was cooperative, supervisory, critical, and at times conflictual. The study adopts a historical-analytical method and interprets the political and religious concepts embedded in Qajar texts, institutions, and political developments. The findings show that Shiʿi political thought transformed the relationship between the sultan and the ulama into a multilayered relationship through concepts such as imamate, occultation, deputyship, shariʿa, justice, obedience, preservation of order, avoidance of sedition, and criticism of oppression. Within this framework, the Qajar shah sought to represent himself as the protector of religion, guardian of order, and refuge of the subjects, yet his legitimacy remained incomplete without reference to the ulama and shariʿa-based criteria. Conversely, the ulama were not merely passive legitimizers of monarchy; as interpreters of religious law, social mediators, and holders of public influence, they could endorse, restrain, or criticize royal authority. Late Qajar developments, especially the Tobacco Protest and the Constitutional Revolution, demonstrated that the same Shiʿi political thought that could support the preservation of monarchical order under certain circumstances could, under different conditions, become a foundation for criticizing despotism and demanding law, justice, and limitation of royal power. The article concludes that the relationship between the sultan and the ulama in the Qajar era was neither a complete alliance between religion and monarchy nor a full separation between them, but rather a tense and changing coexistence that helped prepare the ground for Iran’s political transition toward constitutionalism and legal accountability.

Speech Act Analysis of Prayer in the Holy Qur’an with Emphasis on Its Educational Foundations

Mohammad Hadi Arbabi iD , Masoud Akbarizadeh ^* iD , Mehdi Mohammadi nia iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.193

Interdisciplinary studies in the field of the Holy Qur’an and its examination require exploring the achievements of various sciences, utilizing Qur’anic indications, and identifying the relationship between its teachings and these disciplines. Linguistics can be considered one of these sciences, as it has found diverse applications in the humanities and has also acquired a distinctive position in Qur’anic studies. One of the approaches within this discipline that has received comparatively less attention in the study of the Qur’an is cognitive linguistics. This field adopts an approach that regards language as a means of uncovering the human cognitive system and is recognized as one of the major branches of contemporary linguistics. Cognitive linguistics has developed innovative methods for analyzing various texts, including religious texts and especially the Holy Qur’an. Furthermore, it helps prevent potential interpretive errors that may arise when exegetes substitute one expression for another and guides them toward understanding the conceptualizations embedded within each Qur’anic expression as they truly are.

Jurisprudential–Legal Analysis of the Principle “Al-Wuquf ʿalā Ḥasab Mā Yuwaqqifuhā Ahluhā” and Its Function within the Iranian Legal System

Fatemeh Rezaei , Naser Marivani ^* iD , Jalal Jalali Zadeh iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.113

The principle “al-wuquf ʿalā ḥasab mā yuwaqqifuhā ahluhā” (endowments shall be administered according to the conditions established by their founders) constitutes one of the fundamental doctrines of Islamic endowment (waqf) jurisprudence. In both Imami (Jaʿfari) jurisprudence and the four Sunni schools of law, this rule plays a central role in determining the scope of the founder’s authority and the manner of administering endowed property. The substance of this principle indicates that the legal structure of a waqf is governed primarily by the will of the founder (waqif), and that the trustee, beneficiaries, supervisor, and even the religious authority or the state are, in principle, obliged to implement the endowment in accordance with the deed of endowment and the conditions stipulated by the founder. Using a descriptive–analytical method with a comparative approach, the present study first examines the jurisprudential and hadith-based foundations of this principle within Imami jurisprudence and Sunni legal schools. It then analyzes its function within the Iranian legal system through an examination of provisions of the Iranian Civil Code, the Endowment Law, and regulations governing the Endowments and Charity Affairs Organization, alongside references to judicial practice and legal doctrines. The findings demonstrate that although the Iranian legislator has not explicitly codified this principle in the Civil Code, it has been implicitly recognized across multiple statutory provisions. Nevertheless, the fragmentation of regulations, legislative silence in certain areas, and the apparent tension between the authority of the Endowments Organization and the founder’s stipulated conditions have generated practical implementation challenges. The results suggest that explicit statutory recognition of the principle, formulation of clear criteria for identifying invalid conditions, and strengthening judicial supervision over endowments could enhance legal certainty in waqf administration and reinforce public confidence among founders.

The Role of Moral Anthropology in the Development of Social Skills: A Case Study Based on the Theories of Georges Bataille and Emmanuel Levinas

Mohammad Gholami Paji iD , Seyedeh Akram Ashabi ^* iD , Vahid Fallah iD

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.87

In today’s world, where ethical and social challenges have become increasingly complex, educational systems require programs that not only focus on the transmission of knowledge but also prioritize the cultivation of moral virtues and social skills. Teaching ethical behaviors to individuals is of great importance and represents one of the effective approaches for developing social skills and strengthening social interactions among members of society. The present article examines the views and perspectives of two of the most prominent philosophers of the modern Western era, namely the theories of Georges Bataille and Emmanuel Levinas, regarding ethical issues. Among the comparative study methods, George Bereday’s method—comprising four stages of description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison—has been employed (Bereday, 1964). The analysis of the findings indicates that, in general, both philosophers regard the human being as an ethical entity, and every ethical individual exists in relation to the “Other” and to the “community.” However, they also differ in certain respects; Levinas argues that without the existence of the “Other,” ethics loses its true meaning, because ethical concepts are among those that acquire meaning and reality within the human relationship with the “Other,” and he places greater emphasis on the positive aspects of human nature, particularly moral and social dimensions. In contrast, Bataille emphasizes the individual dimension of the human being in relation to ethical issues.

Identifying Ethical Components in the Islamic Lifestyle with a Focus on Dialogue and Interaction Styles

Alireza Farshchian , Amirhossein Ghanadi

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.25

The aim of this study was to identify the ethical components of the Islamic lifestyle, focusing on dialogue and interaction styles, based on the lived experiences of experts in Islamic studies and social ethics. This qualitative study employed thematic analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 professors, researchers, and experts in Islamic and ethics fields in Tehran. Participants were selected purposefully, and interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were coded and analyzed using NVivo software, leading to the extraction of main and sub-themes. Data analysis revealed three main themes: ethics of dialogue (mutual respect, honesty, fairness, humility, and avoidance of verbal violence), ethics of social interaction (responsibility, empathy, cooperation, trust-building, and observing boundaries), and ethics of self-management and self-control (self-awareness, emotion regulation, responsibility in speech, and behavioral review). Interviewee quotations indicated that adhering to these components fosters healthy individual and social relationships and enhances cultural cohesion. Emphasizing the identified ethical components in dialogue and interaction plays a key role in enhancing social capital and reducing communication harms in Iranian society. Practical education and promotion of these components within educational systems, families, and media can facilitate moral growth and cultural excellence.

Identifying the Dimensions of Environmental Ethics in Islamic Jurisprudence: A Qualitative Thematic Content Analysis

Alireza Moradinassab , Marziyeh Sadat Rafiei ^*

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.41

The present study aims to identify and conceptualize the dimensions of environmental ethics within Islamic jurisprudential texts using a qualitative content analysis approach. Canonical Shi'a jurisprudential sources such as the works of Shahid Thani, Allama Hilli, and Imam Khomeini were analyzed. Data were examined using a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis. The findings revealed five major dimensions of environmental ethics in Islamic law: “Prohibition of Corruption on Earth,” “Rights of Non-Human Creatures,” “Intergenerational Justice,” “Stewardship of Nature,” and “Collective Environmental Responsibility.” This study contributes to the expansion of ethical-jurisprudential frameworks in response to contemporary environmental crises.

A Phenomenological Analysis of the Ethical Experience of Repentance in Islamic Jurisprudential and Moral Texts

Seyed Ali Sajjadifar ^*

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.42

This study seeks to understand the ethical experience of repentance in Islamic jurisprudential and moral literature through a descriptive phenomenological approach. Classical texts by Sheikh Mufid, Nasir al-Din Tusi, and Allameh Tabataba’i were analyzed. The findings identified five central themes in the ethical experience of repentance: “Moral Regret,” “Recognition of Error,” “Commitment to Reform,” “Acceptance of Ethical Responsibility,” and “Rebuilding the Relationship with God.” These themes reflect the deeply moral nature of repentance in Islamic Shari‘a and can inform ethical education and spiritual development frameworks.

Identifying the Components of Dialogical Ethics in the Islamic Tradition: A Qualitative Thematic Study

Sara Ahmadifar , Kamran Yazdi ^*

https://doi.org/10.61838/jspe.43

This study aims to identify the key components of dialogical ethics within the Islamic tradition. Using thematic analysis, the research draws from Qur’anic verses, Prophetic traditions, and the writings of classical Islamic moral scholars such as Al-Ghazali, Raghib Isfahani, and Allameh Tabataba’i. The analysis revealed several core components of dialogical ethics: “Mutual Respect,” “Truthfulness,” “Tolerance of Dissent,” “Avoidance of Fruitless Argumentation,” “Intentionality in Dialogue,” and “Linguistic Justice.” These components offer a framework for revitalizing ethical communication in contemporary Islamic societies.

Sharia, Philosophy and Ethics

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A Comparative Study of Mystical Hermeneutics and the Correspondence of the Threefold Realms in the Thought of Sayyid Haydar Amuli and Ruhollah Khomeini

Hermeneutic Analysis of Sharia in the Works of Muslim Philosophers and Persian-Language Poets

A Genealogical Analysis of the Concept of “Fanā” in Islamic Sufism from the Early Centuries to the Safavid Period

A Review and Critique of Machiavelli’s Ideas Based on Transcendent Theosophy

Discourse Analysis of Democracy in the Political-Jurisprudential Thought of Contemporary Shiite Scholars: Imam Khomeini, Ayatollah Khamenei, Shahid Beheshti, and Shahid Motahhari

Amartya Sen and the Critique of the Normative–Ethical Foundations of Welfare Economics and Development (A Critical Approach to the Welfare Policies of the Fifth and Sixth Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran)

A Comparative Study of Religious Propagation Methods in the Abbasid Caliphate and the Umayyads of al-Andalus

Representation of Homosexuality in the Popular American Television Series Friends

The Literature of Playwriting by Mirza Aqa Tabrizi in Critique of Qajar Despotism

A Comparative Analysis and Critique of the Foundations of Commands and Prohibitions in Imami and Wahhabi Legal Theory

Explaining the Philosophical Components of Ikhlāṣ with Emphasis on the Views of Allameh Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi

An Analysis of the Philosophical Foundations of Aesthetics in Transcendent Theosophy: From Existence to Beauty

The Duality of Method and Horizon in Contemporary Kurdish Qur’anic Exegesis: A Comparative Study of Theological, Jurisprudential, and Linguistic Foundations in the Works of Modarres and Abdulaziz

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