https://www.jspt.ir/ Journal of the Socio-Political Thought of Islam en daily 1 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0330 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0330 https://www.jspt.ir/article_225226.html This article investigates the theoretical relationship between Western liberal democracy and the Shiʿite doctrine of Imamate through a comparative analysis of Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political philosophy and Mulla Ṣadrā’s metaphysical-political thought. The study applies a descriptive-analytical methodology, relying on primary texts and scholarly sources to examine whether structural convergence exists between the two paradigms or if they are fundamentally irreconcilable. While the Shiʿite conception of Imamate is rooted in divine authority (wilāyah), infallibility (ʿiṣmah), and metaphysical legitimacy, Rousseau’s model of democracy emphasizes popular sovereignty, the general will (volonté générale), and civil equality. The findings indicate that absolute compatibility cannot be affirmed; however, if democracy is interpreted as a procedural method rather than a normative ideology, selective harmony may emerge—particularly in contexts where popular participation is permitted under the supervision of religious authority during the occultation of the infallible Imam. The article concludes that the extent of compatibility between democracy and the Imamate system depends on the interpretive lens—whether democracy is treated as an axiological end in itself or as an instrumental framework subordinated to divine law.  https://www.jspt.ir/article_225210.html In the contemporary world, ethical governance and the application of ethical principles in management processes have become an essential need. Despite the unprecedented growth of technology and social changes, political and social crises in many societies have created challenges for rulers that make it necessary to provide explanations of the desirable practical ethics of governance. In the meantime, classical ethical theories, especially the teachings of Abu Ali Miskawayh, can play a decisive role in governance strategies. Therefore, this article examines the principles of desirable practical ethics of governance from the perspective of Abu Ali Miskawayh, an Iranian philosopher and thinker of the fourth century AH.This research was conducted using a library method and a descriptive analysis of Miskawayh's texts, with an emphasis on his works in the field of governance and social ethics, and seeks to answer the question: What are the ethical principles governing governance from Miskawayh's perspective? And how can these principles be used to achieve desirable governance? The findings show that Miskawayh considers the importance of issues such as attention to public interests, moderation, continuous monitoring, equipping with knowledge, tolerance, foresight, and integrity and ethics to be among the most important characteristics of desirable governance ethics, and emphasizes interaction, tolerance, and decisiveness in dealing with agents, the public, and the military. He believes that applying these principles can help create just and efficient governance and ultimately lead to the country's social and political development. https://www.jspt.ir/article_225211.html The early Church Fathers, by reordering the Jewish sacred texts, placed the officially canonized Christian scriptures alongside the Hebrew scriptures in a manner that allowed the former to be perceived as a continuation of the latter. Thus, the religious authority of the Jewish scriptures remained intact and they became an integral part of the Christian theological worldview. Furthermore, the Gospels reference the fulfillment of prophetic promises made in the Hebrew Bible concerning the Jewish Messiah, aligning these prophecies with the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and thereby affirming the historical continuity of the Jewish texts. The Pauline Epistles, which constitute a foundational portion of the official Christian canon, occupy a distinct position in this context. While affirming the sacredness of Jewish scripture, Paul presents a conception of divine action in history that departs from earlier phases of human religious experience. Employing an allegorical method of interpretation rooted in the Jewish tradition, Paul articulates a philosophy of history that situates the advent of Jesus Christ, as the sacrificial Son of God, as a transformative turning point in human history. In this framework, although the Jewish texts are retained as the “former covenant” between God and humanity, they are reinterpreted as sources for articulating a novel theological vision. The legalistic orientation of those scriptures, however, is rendered obsolete. This study, through an analytical-descriptive approach, explores Paul’s use of allegorical interpretation of Jewish religious texts and the emergence of a new theological structure grounded in this hermeneutic. https://www.jspt.ir/article_225213.html Interreligious dialogue within the framework of academic tourism represents an effective mechanism of public diplomacy, endowed with a unique potential to promote global peace and mutual understanding. Nevertheless, this study identifies five fundamental challenges that hinder its efficacy. First is the phenomenon of the "touristification of dialogue", which reduces profound religious content to superficial experiential encounters. Second, the political instrumentalization of dialogue institutions by governments pursuing geopolitical agendas. Third, the infiltration of missionary movements disguised as academic programs. Fourth, favoritism in the distribution of academic opportunities. And fifth, the overemphasis on abstract themes at the expense of practical issues. The research proposes a comprehensive framework centered on three foundational pillars to enhance interreligious dialogue:The design of multilayered oversight mechanisms emphasizing transparency of objectives and strengthening the ethical accountability of institutions engaged in this field, thereby minimizing political and ideological manipulation.The establishment of ethical frameworks grounded in financial transparency, aimed at reducing dependence on political actors and enabling an independent space for scholarly engagement.The promotion of interdisciplinary approaches that integrate theology, social sciences, and environmental studies to shift dialogues from abstract discussions toward concrete societal challenges such as social justice, climate change, and cultural coexistence.By synthesizing theory and practice, this study offers a pragmatic model that repositions interreligious dialogue from a theoretical construct into a tangible instrument for addressing global challenges.  https://www.jspt.ir/article_225215.html The emergence of decentralized cryptocurrencies has introduced significant legal and jurisprudential challenges regarding their nature, ownership, and transactions. A key issue is their potential conflict with the Islamic principle of "I'anah Bar Ethem" (aiding in sin), which prohibits facilitating sinful acts. Cryptocurrencies, operating outside government oversight, can enable crimes like money laundering and terrorist financing, potentially qualifying as aiding in sin. This necessitates an examination of whether this principle applies to decentralized cryptocurrencies from the perspective of Imami jurisprudence. This research aims to explore the impact of the "I'anah Bar Ethem" principle on decentralized cryptocurrencies within Imami jurisprudence. Given the novelty of cryptocurrencies and the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks, understanding the relevant Islamic legal rulings is crucial. Such analysis can aid in creating a robust legislative and judicial framework for regulating this domain.Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, the study examines the nature of decentralized cryptocurrencies, the concept of "I'anah Bar Ethem" in Imami jurisprudence, and the interplay between these two. Findings reveal that decentralized cryptocurrencies, by bypassing governmental control and facilitating criminal activities, fall under the prohibitions outlined in the "I'anah Bar Ethem" principle. This underscores the need for legal and regulatory mechanisms to manage and monitor these technologies effectively, ensuring their benefits are harnessed while preventing misuse. https://www.jspt.ir/article_225222.html The encounter of Shiʿi scholars with modernization during the Qajar era constitutes one of the most critical intellectual and sociopolitical issues in modern Iranian history, bearing extensive consequences for the country's political, cultural, and identity transformations. This study, based on the analysis of primary historical documents and sources, investigates the typologies adopted by religious scholars in responding to modernity, along with the underlying causes and ramifications of each approach. The findings indicate that the clerical engagement with modernization was not a static or monolithic reaction; rather, it can be classified into three primary models:(1) Rejectionist Model, characterized by a comprehensive negation of modernity, especially its ideological and value-based components, rooted in a profound sense of civilizational alterity;(2) Selective Adaptation Model, which conditionally accepted certain scientific, technological, and institutional elements of modernity under specific religious and identity-based considerations;(3) Transformative Indigenization Model, which sought to reinterpret and integrate modern phenomena within the framework of Islamic principles and epistemology.The diversity of these approaches was shaped by historical contingencies, intellectual frameworks, and sociocultural contexts, grounded in the hermeneutical dynamics of Shiʿi jurisprudence (ijtihād). A scholarly elucidation of these models not only clarifies the intellectual-cultural landscape of the clerical response to modernity but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of religion and ijtihād in the modernization of Iranian society, paving the way for further comparative research in related domains.