Contemplation and Will in Socio-Islamic Thought
Contemplation and Will in Socio-Islamic Thought
By: Hassan Kheiri PhD.
Abstract:
Muhammad Bagher Sadr, a Shiite social theorist, by presenting Substitution theory based on Quran explained the social issues. Describing Sadr’s rejection of philosophical origin of society, this paper aims to answer the following questions upon his thought:
- What is the position of contemplation and will in social changes, from an Islamic point of view.
- How can we adjust contemplation, will and activism with social regulations and divine socio-historical customs2.
- How can we explain the rationality of society while rejecting its philosophical origin3.
Here we disapprove the philosophical origin of society and explain Sadr’s substitution theory and then base on that we: 1) demonstrate the differences between social and individual behavior; 2) explain the accompaniment of human will with divine custom and laws; 3) analyze the contemplation and will as two major elements of social changes; and 4) demonstrate the role of religion in balancing the social and personal benefits.
Explaining what human being encounters in social and natural interactions and social changes and describing ideal types ahead of human being’s evolution, based on human nature and identity, are what we discuss in this paper.
Keywords:
Nature, contemplation, religion, social origin, substitution, individual and social benefits, ideal type, self love
