A Philosophical Explanation of the Components of the Islamic-Iranian Lifestyle in the Teachings of the Holy Qur’an

Abstract

The Islamic-Iranian lifestyle cannot be reduced to a set of everyday habits, behavioral patterns, or cultural practices; rather, it is founded upon a coherent network of philosophical, doctrinal, and axiological principles that organize the human relationship with God, the self, others, and the world. The present study aimed to provide a philosophical explanation of the components of the Islamic-Iranian lifestyle in the teachings of the Holy Qur’an. The study employed a qualitative analytical-inferential method and, through a practical reasoning framework, analyzed fundamental Qur’anic propositions in five domains: ontology, anthropology, epistemology, axiology, and philosophy of religion. The findings indicated that, at the ontological level, the world is created, purposeful, law-governed, and subject to divine lordship, from which components such as God-centeredness, purposiveness, responsibility, moderation, order, and orientation toward the afterlife can be inferred. At the anthropological level, the human being is understood as a physical-spiritual, rational, free, dignified, innate, and perfection-seeking being, which supports rationality, responsible choice, self-control, dignity, justice, and self-purification. Epistemologically, sense perception, reason, the heart, and revelation constitute important avenues of knowledge and provide the foundation for truth-seeking, learning, reflection, and insight. Axiologically, values are organized in relation to human perfection and proximity to God, giving priority to justice, ethical conduct, piety, and moderation. From the perspective of religion, the comprehensiveness, rationality, finality, dynamism, and guiding function of Islam provide the basis for servitude, acceptance of divine guidance, religious authority, Islamic-Iranian identity, and balanced development. Overall, the Islamic-Iranian lifestyle emerges as an integrated, rational, and dynamic model that harmonizes individual and social dimensions of life and ultimately seeks the realization of Hayat Tayyiba, or a good and wholesome life.