The Scope of Responsibility in Social Education Based on Letter 31 of Nahj al-Balāghah

Mohasses, Marzieh; Nejabat, Motahhareh

doi:10.22034/hsr.2025.51908.1075

The Scope of Responsibility in Social Education Based on Letter 31 of Nahj al-Balāghah

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Religions, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

² Master’s Student, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/hsr.2025.51908.1075

Abstract

One of the most crucial pillars of social education is the concept of responsibility. This subject has received significant attention in narrative teachings. Social responsibility, as a key dimension of social education, entails an individual's commitment to their surrounding environment and can be considered an edifying value that counteracts self-centered tendencies such as hedonism and the pursuit of power. The concept of social responsibility encompasses both attention to the welfare of others and the pursuit of personal goals without disregarding or transgressing the legitimate expectations of others. This research seeks to utilize the teachings of Letter 31 of Nahj al-Balāghah, as one of the authoritative hadith sources, employing a descriptive-analytical method to examine the components of social responsibility from the perspective of Imam Ali (AS). In this study, the components of social responsibility refer to a set of interconnected elements that, through dynamic interaction with one another, guarantee the fulfillment of an individual's responsibility towards society. The findings of this research indicate that Letter 31 of Nahj al-Balāghah refers to components of social responsibility, including awareness of one's time, benevolence, wisdom in speech, the correlation between capability and accepting responsibility, charitable giving, forgiveness, and the social division of labor. This letter addresses individuals' responsibilities in interactions with friends, family, relatives, and opponents, revealing important aspects of the nature of responsible relationships.

Keywords

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