A New Perspective on the System of Islamic Political Rationality

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran

10.22081/psq.2023.66958.2811

Abstract

The pursuit of an effective social rationality is a significant preoccupation for Muslim intellectuals, especially in the wake of the modern era. The central inquiry revolves around the means to attain rationality while navigating the abstract and unidimensional perspectives on reason and rationalism held by Muslim philosophers and theologians, which finds expression in practical wisdom. This pursuit embodies a rationality that not only maintains religious authenticity but also establishes connections with instrumental reason and empirical science. Such a rationality aims to bolster the material and spiritual prowess of the Islamic world, compensating for past inactivity and failures in competing with the modern Western civilization. There are already general studies of this topic, but has clearly presented a theory of an efficient social rationality. This study explores novel interpretations of religious texts and leverages religious sensibilities to apply instrumental and calculative rationality, along with common-sense scientific approaches, to individual and societal contexts. By doing so, it presents a fresh understanding of rationality within a distinct theoretical framework, offering a unique perspective on this significant subject matter. The research methodology employed in this study is argumentative-deductive, and the method of ijtihad is utilized to analyze religious texts. The theoretical framework primarily draws inspiration from Mulla Sadra's perspective on existence and the nature of human beings, while also expanding beyond the confines of the Sadraean approach in practical terms. One implication of this research is its significant contribution to the development of Islamic human sciences and, by extension, facilitating theoretical discussions on the revival of Islamic civilization. Moreover, in the short term, it can assist in addressing governance issues through the lens of Islamic rationality.

Keywords


Akbarian, R., & Nayini, M. A. (1390 AP). Investigating Mulla Sadra's innovations in practical wisdom and their impact on human dignity. Hekmat va Falsafeh Journal, 7(28), pp. 116-140. [In Persian]
Bagherzadeh, M. S. (1396 AP). Dimensions of practical wisdom in the view of Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi. Pajoohe: Journal of Humanities and Islamic Sciences. Qom: Bagher Al-Alam Research Institute. Retrieved 13 Aban 1397, from pajoohe.ir. [In Persian]
Dinani, G. H. (1387 AP). Practical wisdom (Tahzib-e Nafs, Administration of the Household and Society from the Perspective of Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi). Tehran: Etela'at Publications. [In Persian]
Dinani, G. H. (1399 a AP). The Brilliance of Ibn Rushd in Masha'i Wisdom. Tehran: Elm Publishing. [In Persian]
Dinani, G. H. (1399 b AP). Suhrawardi's Thought: Philosophical Views of Professor Gholamhossein Dinani. (E. Mansouri Larijani, Ed.).Tehran: Saroosh Publications. [In Persian]
Elahi Ghomshei, M. (1395 AP). Divine wisdom: knowledge and particular. Tehran: Rozbeh Publications. [In Persian]
Gharavian, M. (1388 AP). Guidance to the Command in the Interpretation of Al-Mizan. Ma'rifat Journal, (13), pp. 19-22. Retrieved from http://marifat.nashriyat.ir/node/541. [In Persian]
Gholami, R. (1396 AP). The Philosophy of Twin Islamic Civilization. Tehran: Soreh Mehr Publications. [In Persian]
Gholami, R. (1398 AP). The Rational System of Political Islam and Its Role in the Formation of Modern Islamic Civilization. Tehran: Aftab-e Tose'e Publications. [In Persian]
Gholami, R. (1402 AP). Meaning and Foundation of Islamic Humanities. Tehran: Institute for Cultural, Social, and Civilizational Studies Publications. [In Persian]
Haqqiqat, S. S. (1386 AP). Political philosophy from an Islamic perspective. Baztab Andisheh, 86, 68. [In Persian]
Hassan, R., et al. (1399 AP). Research methodology in design science as a solution-oriented methodology. Journal of Methodology in Humanities, 105, pp. 35-50. [In Persian]
Hoseini Beheshti, M. R. (1400 AP). The Concept of Science and Scientific Method in the Thought of Francis Bacon. Critical Research on Texts and Programs of Humanities, 7(21), pp. 1-25. [In Persian]
Jaberi, M. A. (1399 AP). Critique of Arab Reason: The Formation of Arab Reason. (M. Al Mahdi, Trans.). Tehran: Nasle Aftab Publications. [In Persian]
Jafari, M. T. (1399 AP). Reasonable Life. Tehran: Institute for Compilation and Publication of Jafari's Works. [In Persian]
Javadi Amoli, A. (1390 AP). Tafsir Tasnim (Vol. 1). Qom: Esra Publications. [In Persian]
Javadi Amoli, A. (1392 AP). Tafsir Tasnim (Vol. 20). Qom: Esra Publications. [In Persian]
Kulayni, M. (1412 AH). Usul al-Kafi (Vol. 1). Beirut: Dar al-Ta'aruf lil-Matbuat. [In Persian]
Malekian, M. (1381 AP). Rationality. Baztab-e Andishe, (30), pp. 13-21. [In Persian]
Maslah, A. A. (1392 AP). Ayatollah Tabatabai's Perceptions of Validity and the Philosophy of Culture. Tehran: Pegah Roozgarno Publications. [In Persian]
Najafi, M., & Haqani, M. (1384 AP). History of Political Transformations in Iran. Tehran: Institute for Contemporary Historical Studies Publications. [In Persian]
Pourhasan, G. (1399 AP). Rereading the theory of social credibility by Allameh Tabatabai. Theories of Muslim Intellectuals' Social Theories, 2(10), pp. 223-250. [In Persian]
Razi, Q. (1413 AH). Hashiyat al-Isharat. Tehran: Dafte Nashr-e Farhang-e Islami. [In Persian]
Zabihi, M. (1398 AP). Practical Wisdom from the Perspective of Three Muslim Philosophers: Farabi, Avicenna, and Mulla Sadra. Tehran: Samt Publications. [In Persian]