Imam Ali ΄s Studies

Abstract This article, taken from a thesis entitled "The Role of the Companions of Badri in the Era of Imam Ali", attempts to clarify the role and performance of the aforementioned Companions who accompanied Imam Ali during his caliphate? This question is investigated through their presence in the events during the caliphate of Ali bin Abi Talib and their acceptance of responsibility in the political, military and cultural positions of this era. The results of the survey show that among the supporters of Badri Imam, in addition to being present with the Imam in various battles and taking responsibility in the assigned tasks and missions, the interest in explaining and defining the position of the Imam during the time of the presence of the Prophet of Islam and the increasing insight for the generation that did not understand the presence of the Imam during the time of the Prophet and was plagued by the suspicions of the enemies.

Abstract If someone intends to describe their behavior and dispositions as good or evil or make a moral assessment of the others’ behavior, they need to know the good and evil. Schools of moral philosophy have responded to the need based on their different foundations and approaches, and as a result there are three main theories of morality: teleological ethics, deontological ethics, and virtue ethics. Islam’s school of morality has its own viewpoint, but it has not taken the form of a theory. One of the ways to infer the moral theory of Islam is through explaining commonalities and differences between schools of morality and morality-themed statements in the Koranic verses and hadiths. Several researches have been conducted using this method. However, in spite of Nahj al-Balagha’s substantial credence as a comprehensive hadith and morality-themed book, no research was found which would examine the Islamic moral viewpoint as narrated by Nahj al-Balagha. Thus, this study has chosen consequentialism to ask the question of what is the relationship between the theory of morality and the viewpoint inferred from Nahj al-Balagha. The comparison was drawn using the analytic-descriptive method. The research result was that while there are many morality-themed phrases in Nahj al-Balagha which establish a relationship between actions and their consequences, Nahj al-Blagha’s viewpoint is not a consequentialist one, because morality-themed statements in the book are characterized by features that are out of line with consequentialism, such as a lack of connection between goodness of some actions and their consequences; desirability of an action regardless of one’s personal interest; different moral responsibilities towards different people; and the gradation of the concepts of good and evil. Therefore, it seems that the high frequency of making mentions of the consequences of moral actions in the book has a motivational function.

Abstract  
Imam Ali(PBUH)’s intellectual teachings have been used by poets and writers in Persian Literature. Onsorolma?ali relying  his extensive knowledge of cultures, civilizations of different ethnicities, and religious sources has used a rich collection of proverbs especially Alavi wisdom in proportion to the subjects and the chapters of Qaboosnameh, and these intellectual, cultural, and literary variety along with the author’s sincerity are the reasons of its attraction near different classes and people. Including proverbs and allegories as a linguistic, cultural, civilizational, and encyclopedic corpse of the audience led to a high literary value and a great number of audience for Qaboosnameh. This article has studied Qaboosnameh in the light of Imam Ali’s educational teachings and Gérard Genette’s theory of intertextuality in a descriptive-analytical way. We have concluded that Imam Ali’s worldwide teachings have a persuasive and encouraging role in Qaboosnameh due to great formal and thematic characteristics. The high frequency of subjects such as justice, politics, economics, programming, and complying with human values and rights signifies that Imam Ali’s teachings have an extensive role in the literary-educational view of Onsorolma?ali in an intertextual way. Imam Ali’s comprehensive teachings led to the thematic, educational comprehensiveness of Qabusnameh.

Abstract A very important part of Imam Ali (PBUH)’s thought and conduct has been reflected in the extant collection of his words entitled Nahj al-Balagha. This study tries to examine some of Imam Ali (PBUH)’s behaviors with the content analysis method in order to clarify what rational principles and codes governed his conduct. The research results indicate that in the particular context of war and sedition, disobedience with regard to the issue of jihad, caliphate of Uthman and his murder, deviation and decadence of society, and in confrontation with Mua’wiya’s politics and hypocrisy and breaking of promises, Imam Ali (PBUH) acted rationally and made people aware of the source of the seditions and causes of society’s decadence and an increase in vice. At such junctures as his confrontation with enemies and in giving consultation to others as well as in his correspondence with
 
 * Associate Professor, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Department of Qur'anic and Hadith Sciences, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan, ah.gharaee@vru.ac.ir
Date received: , Date of acceptance:
 
Mu’awiya and government agents, he took right decisions and rational procedures. To put matters right and change people’s attitudes and beliefs, he revealed true colors of hypocrites and oath-breakers and provided a description of the worst people (pseudo-ulema, hypocrites and naïve judges) and best people (the devout, believers and real ulema). In different situations, through explaining the rational rules of life he offered conclusive arguments to everyone, so that he would not be accused of being greedy for power, jocular, interested in playing games, ignorant of war techniques, and having a part in the murder of Uthman.

Abstract There has always been an interplay between the institution of family and political system. This study is aimed at examining and analyzing how familial competence was factored in during the process of selecting and appointing agents in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s government. The main research question is: what was the contribution of familial competence to the selection of agents in Imam Ali’ (PBUH)’s government? To answer this question, we have tried to study Koranic verses, hadiths and Imam Ali (PBUH)’s conduct with an inductive approach, and assess the results with the qualitative method of ijtihād. The research findings show that in Imam Ali (PBUH)’s government upbringing was considered an important factor along with individual qualifications. Furthermore, this study puts forward a criticism of individualism in contemporary politics and emphasizes the necessity of using the positive potential of familial competence in appointments. Thus, for the sake of meritocracy and correct regulation of political relations we certainly need to consider individuals’ upbringing along with other criteria of political competence and use the above-mentioned positive potential.

Abstract Announced and illuminated to the public through the significant and decisive event of the Ghadir Khumm, the subject of Imamate and succession to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as an important ideological issue assumed a special status in Islamic studies. Throughout the history of Islam, many Islamic theosophists, historians and hadith experts have dealt with the subject and analyzed it in agreement with their own intellectual and ideological orientations. A noted Shiite work in the area of Ghadir Khumm studies which was intended to respond to questions on the event and to prove the ascendancy of Imam Ali (PBUH) in Imamate and succession through invoking Shiite and Sunni hadiths and historical accounts, especially accounts of caliphs’ virtues, is al-Mustarshid fi-l-Imama written by Muhammad ibn Jarir ibn Rustam al-Tabari, better known as al-Tabari the Great, a hadith expert in the third and fourth centuries AH. In this study, the author’s methods of reporting and criticizing the questions of deniers of guardianship after and succession to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and fake accounts of the virtues of the other three caliphs are examined with the analytic-descriptive method and through documentary research. The findings show that by categorizing the questions and doubts of deniers in al-Mustarshid fi-l-Imama al-Tabari the Great criticizes and responds to them using reliable evidence and documents, especially those from Sunni sources, to demonstrate Imam Ali (PBUH)’s ascendancy in the matter of succession to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).
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Abstract The subject of this study is the Persians’ problem with Arabic language in the center of Imam Ali’s government, Iraq. Imam Ali (PBUH) (Caliph from 35 to 40 AH) relocated his capital from Medina, Arabic Peninsula, to Iraq, a region whose old and newly built towns were inhabited by Arabs as well as by many Persians, a majority of who were his proponents. Historical evidence shows that the Persians had preserved their culture, especially their language, but had no command of Arabic language. Different aspects of this issue have been examined in the present study. The main research question is how important the Persians’ problem with the language was, and what remedies were considered for the problem. This study draws upon various library sources, describing and analyzing them within the framework of a socio-historical view. Research shows that despite some accounts to the effect that Imam Ali (PBUH) and Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali codified the Arabic grammar with the purpose of purifying the language, the two men’s main purpose in compiling the grammatical subject matter seem to have been to familiarize the Persians with the language, thereby removing the above-mentioned problem, so that the way would be paved for a closer communication with the Persians

Abstract .Nahj al-Balagha contains different forms of talk with Allah. Given Imam Ali’s attention to the talk in different contexts of his speech, his praying phrases in battlefields were chosen as the subject of the present study with an emphasis on Imam Ali (PBUH)’s phrasing of glorification of Allah. The phrases of glorification in Nahj al-Balagha are examined as speech acts with the analytic-descriptive method and by using library sources. The research findings show that while the speech acts are open to an emotional interpretation, by passing through the formal structure of the phrases, each of them is found to be open to several interpretations, and Imam Ali (PBUH) has utilized the underlying and intricate structure of the phrases to explain meanings and persuade the audience. Using the framework of John Searle’s speech act theory, it was observed that expressives, directives and assertives are in descending order Nahj al-Balagha’s most frequent speech acts in Imam Ali’s phrases of glorification of Allah in battlefields and that declarations and commissives have been less frequent

Abstract The inefficiency and unresponsiveness of public administration systems are often attributed to a lack of attention to a combination of general, ethical, and specialized competency standards. The aim of this study is to identify and design a tripartite model of managerial competencies in public administration from the perspective of Ali’s teachings in Nahj al-Balagha, and to articulate these criteria within a unified system. This is a fundamental qualitative study with an inductive approach. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data obtained from the texts and to design the final model. This research led to the design of a tripartite model of managerial competencies in public administration from the perspective of Nahj al-Balagha. This model consists of three main categories and 33 subcategories, with the three main categories being: intrapersonal criteria, general criteria, and specialized criteria. The outline of this model, with the centrality of overall administrative management and its rays, is the managerial criteria that have been extracted and reflected from the framework of the leadership of Imam Ali. The results of this research emphasize that equipping managers and officials of the country with the identified concepts and developing their capabilities in these areas in a combined manner can bring about significant achievements in the field of Islamic management.
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Abstract Amir al-Muʾminin ʿAli (Peace be upon him) holds a very high position in Islam and the Muslim heritage, both as the immediate successor and "wasī" of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and as the fourth caliph for Muslims. Therefore, his image has been reflected and examined from various aspects in the works and writings of Muslims throughout history. One of the works that can be considered in this regard is the valuable book al-Fihrist, an ancient Bio-bibliographic work of the late fourth century, authored by Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Nadim. The present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, has examined the data of this work in relation to Ali (Peace be upon him). The findings show that Nadim, who has mentioned the Imam on various occasions in al-Fihrist, on the one hand has introduced the Muṣhaf of Ali (Peace be upon him) and works of Ali such as his speeches, virtues, life events, and martyrdom, and on the other hand has referred to his Shi'a followers and opponents. The terminology used in the mentions of the Imam is significant, and its analysis is grounded in the oldest manuscript of the text, which is a copy of a manuscript in Nadim's handwriting. The results indicate that the image of Imam Ali (Peace be upon him) in al-Fihrist is portrayed as a sacred figure, author, originator of the science of grammar, subject of writings, a miracle of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), and the center of various inclinations
 

Abstract One of the requirements of today's society is to pay attention to public culture. The state of a society's culture tells about the general state of that society from the degree of adherence and non-adherence of its people to the norms. From a sociological point of view, cultural norms include values, customs and laws. Considering that the words of Amir al-Mumenin, peace be upon him, pay more attention to the value dimension of public culture, in this research, we are trying to examine it in its social dimension and from its value aspect, by referring to Nahj al-Balaghe and extracting and analyzing related propositions. In response to the question of what criteria can be obtained from Nahj al-Balaghe to recognize the inappropriateness of culture in the social dimension, to criteria such as oppression, fault-finding, rumour-mongering, cultural backwardness, cutting off communication with others, offering to help others, reneging on promises, suspicion, flattery and talkativeness, As the criteria of impropriety and its lack of desirability in a religious society based on Islamic principles, by using the method of qualitative analysis of the content of propositions, we have come to the conclusion that some of the people's behaviors in the form of public culture are unjust according to the propositions of Nahj al-Balaghe and should be corrected.

Abstract Metaphor in the cognitive view is not merely an instrument belonging in literary language, but a mental process which in effect shapes the structure of our perceptions and receptions. Accordingly, using the analytic-descriptive method and drawing upon George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s theory of cognitive metaphor (1980), the present study proposes, through examining Imam Ali (PBUH)’s hadiths, to draw out abstract concepts which were objectified and made easy-to-understand for the audience by him via the root letters  ج(j), ل (l), ب )b), ب (b) in the general meaning of covering, and to analyze the mappings between source and target domains. Research findings indicate that, with perfect finesse, Imam Ali (PBUH) objectified for the audience the abstract concepts of religion, certitude, calm, patience, fear, poverty, sedition, neglect, miserliness and shame as abstract target domains through the concrete source domain of covering (jalbaba), and made them easy-to-understand through the concept of covering which was known to people at the time.