Imam Ali ΄s Studies

Abstract Shia Muslims believe that Imams are appointed by holy provision and refer to verses of the Holy Qur’an and numerous narratives, especially speeches of Imam Ali (AS) in the Nahj al-Balāgha to prove this claim. On the other side, early Sunni scholars believe imamate to be a matter of allegiance and reject the role of holy provision. Expressing their belief in the role of holy provision in imamate, later Sunni scholars, however, condition its political and social realization on allegiance. They give the allegiance of Prophet Muhammad’s companions to Abu Bakr and Imam Ali’s refusal to accept caliphdom after the murder of Uthmān ibn Affān as proofs. Some also refer to the hadith which says, “My Ummah do not accept what is wrong by common consent.” This paper uses Imam Ali’s speeches in the Nahj al-Balāgha to analyze and criticize the role of allegiance in imamate and underline Imam Ali’s right to rule the Muslim nation.          

Abstract Many of the developing countries especially Muslim countries such as Islamic Republic of Iran have been looking for a suitable model to achieve sustainable political development. Despite the great achievements in the field of political development, the West has had numerous spiritual and moral problems in this area. In fact, what caused the Western political development to face those problems has been its one-dimensional and materialist view of the human and their demands. Models practiced in the Western countries cannot be implemented in developing countries because these models not only have a one-dimensional view of the human but also fail to consider the cultural, social, and religious backgrounds of these countries. Each nation needs a comprehensive model shaped according to its values and norms. The teachings of Imam Ali (AS) match with cultural, social, and religious issues of our country, so it could serve as a comprehensive model to achieve sustainable political development. This research uses 3C model to study the goals and indexes of political development in Imam Ali’s viewpoint and analyzes the texts and gathers data to offer a local model of sustainable political development on the basis of Imam Ali’s teachings.      

Abstract The Encyclopedia of Islam is the main source of Islamic studies in the West, but the articles in this collection present an image of Islam that needs analysis and critique. This image results from poor understanding of physical and spiritual aspects of Islam, and some of them are biased. In his article on Imam Ali (AS) in the third edition of the Encyclopedia of Islam, Robert Gleave uses Shia resources and empathic reviews, yet he declines to address some major points and even gives erroneous interpretations.
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Abstract Muslim great thinkers, including Shia scientists and Sunni scholars have recognized this truth that Imam Ali (AS) excelled in all Islamic sciences, including grammar, rhetoric, jurisprudence, Qu’ran and hadith sciences, ethics, kalām, hikma, and Islamic theosophy throughout history. Ethics is defined as a science which discuses about knowing good and evil in order to enable the mankind to choose the former. Thus, it has a privileged position among sciences. The same is through about researches in this field. The present paper is an attempt to introduce this knowledge, enumerate some moral virtues and vices, and examine them from two aspects; i.e. individual behavior and social behavior. Also, some sub-branches of individual behavior such as piety, truthfulness, and honesty and some sub-branches of social behavior such as beneficence, paying deposit, humility, and justice as well as Imam Ali’s theoretical and practical attitudes towards them are studied. The findings suggest that Imam Ali (AS) inherited Prophet Muhammad’s thoughts and sought to leave an impact on contemporary and future generations through them.    

Abstract Although tax collection is a general effort that all governmental systems with different epistemological worldviews profit from it, tax justice is a complex financial issue which has been subject to considerable debate. The short yet effective government of Imam Ali (AS), as the epitome of justice, offers valuable lessons in this regard. It goes without saying that these lessons save the society from falling prey to oppression and injustice. This study seeks to present exact definitions of tax and its synonyms in Imam Ali’s speech and explain tax planning and spending methods. Moreover, the characteristics of taxpayers as well as some workable solutions to boost tax justice are presented.  

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