Analysis of Semantic Relations of the Term ‘Education’ in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s Speech

Document Type : .

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Islamic Azad University Esfahan Branch

2 Member of the academic faculty at Isfahan University

3 Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Isfahan Islamic Azad University (Khorasgan)

4 Associate Professor of Curriculum Planning, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan Branch (Khorasghan)

10.30465/alavi.2025.50390.2680
Abstract
Education as a basic human need plays a crucial role in fulfillment of potentials, moral excellence and achieving a virtuous life. Despite the central position of the concept of education in the Islamic thought, there has not been separate research on semantic relations of the term education in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s speech. Using qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis, the present study has systemically examined terms and concepts related to education in two main sources Nahj al-Balagha (The Path of Eloquence) and Ghurar al-Hikam wa-Durar al-Kalim (Exalted Aphorisms and Pearls of Speech). The analysis was conducted on the level of terms, themes and semantic network in order to draw up a more precise conceptual structure of education in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s speech. Research findings show that education in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s intellectual constellation is a multifaceted, dynamic, and network-based concept encompassing all existential aspects of human being. In addition to terms and themes which are directly concerned with the subject of education, such fundamental concepts as purification of the soul, teaching the scripture, guidance, growing up, salutary lessons, order, and role model are connected to the semantic system of education in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s speech and placed in its conceptual framework. Thus, education is not only a matter of moral or behavioral development of individuals, but also a process targeting human beings’ demeanor, action and views. Recognizing the semantic relations can lay the ground for reforming the structure of religious education and designing educational models drawing upon Imam Ali (PBUH)’s wisdom

Keywords