A Comparison of the Concept and Purpose of Justice in Imam ʿAlī’s View with Justice in the Perspective of Political Treatise Writing (with Emphasis on Niẓām al-Mulk’s Political Treatise)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Political Thought, Chalus Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalus, Mazandaran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Political Thought, Chalus Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalus, Mazandaran, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Political Thought, Chalus Branch, Islamic Azad University, Chalus, Mazandaran, Iran

10.22081/psq.2024.68263.2864

Abstract

One of the fundamental questions in the field of political thought is the question of the concept, origin, and purpose of justice. In the foundations of Islamic political thought, justice holds a unique position as a foundational and integral principle of religious teachings. ʿAlī, as an exemplar of promoting and upholding justice, prioritized the realization and proper implementation of justice—interpreted as divine and intrinsic—within his governance, especially given the turbulent conditions of his time. Thus, the concept and aim of justice from his perspective can be better understood through a comparative analysis with justice as depicted in Niẓām al-Mulk’s political treatise tradition. The present study aims to answer this question: How does justice in Imam ʿAlī’s view differ from the notion of justice in the perspective of political treatise writers? By collecting qualitative data through documentary methods and using a descriptive-analytical case study approach, along with Leo Strauss’s text-centered esoteric hermeneutic model, this research finds that justice in Imam ʿAlī’s view aligns closely with the Quranic concept of qisṭ and represents a form of social justice. In contrast, justice in political treatises—particularly Niẓām al-Mulk’s Siyar al-mulūk (The Lives of Kings)—is defined with the goal of preserving the power structure in governance. Furthermore, for Imam ʿAlī, justice holds intrinsic value and authenticity, being embodied in public policy, from which social justice can also be inferred. However, in Niẓām al-Mulk’s view, justice lacks intrinsic value and serves merely as a tool for preserving political power and sustaining governance.
 
 

Keywords

References

*Holy Quran
*Nahj-al-Balagha
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