Seyyed Alireza Vasei,
Volume 1, Issue 52 (12-2023)
Abstract
Justice/social equality, due to its broad concept and multiple dimensions and aspects, has been discussed and examined in disciplines such as ethics, culture, politics, and economics. In Islamic thought and culture, justice holds a significant position beyond morality, to the extent that the stability of the universe is attributed to it, and it is considered the foundation of all good deeds of humanity, especially in the realm of governance. The Quran states in verse 8 of Surah Māʾidah that one should practice justice, as it is closer to piety; it also mentions that anger and enmity should not lead to the neglect of justice. In political thought, especially in the realm of governance, there has been extensive discourse on this topic. Imam Ali (as), who held the position of caliph for a time, expressed his concerns regarding justice through his political, religious, and active social roles, considering it a source of stability and strength for the people and a foundation for the political system. This article employs a historical-philosophical approach, positively and valuably, to address the fundamental question of what the philosophy of social equality in the ʿAlavī tradition was and how Imam Ali (as) engaged with it in governance. The central hypothesis of the research is that Imam (as) entered this domain with a civilizational approach based on anthropology, ontology, and religious studies, taking steps to reform society with concern. Although numerous works have emerged regarding the actions and deeds of Imam (as), there is a noticeable gap in the current approach that requires further research and explanation.
