Rereading the Subject Matter of Theory of Justice in Imamiia Political Jurisprudence and its Comparison with Contemporary Conception of Social Justice

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ahmad Farshadian 1
Mustafa Zali 2
1 Faculty of Islamic Studies and Law, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran
2 Philosophy Department, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.30497/sj.2024.245419.1324
Abstract
Social justice means the obligation of the state to provide the material resources of life for all people. According this conception, justice is a norm for the political and social institutions, not a virtue of an individual. On the other hand, Islamic thought has not been indifferent to social justice throughout its history. Based on this, rereading the theory of justice in Imamiia political jurisprudence and its comparison with the contemporary cotemporary of social justice is the main issue of this study. Does the implementation of jurisprudence guarantee the realization of social justice in its new conception or not? It will be argued that, it is possible to formulate justice in the political jurisprudence of the Imamiia in two dominant senses. Its first meaning refers to an individual description and considers practical commitment to Sharia as the criterion of justice. Another meaning for the realization of justice in society is the implementation of the social laws of Sharia. This conception is based on the theological view that Islamic rules are based on objective goods and are leading the human to his happiness. Therefore, the fulfillment of Sharia rules is considered the same as the fulfillment of justice. In the end, it will be shown that that justice as an individual virtue and reducing justice to the implementation of Sharia laws are not enough to realize social justice. However, it is possible to recognize the approaches and requirements within jurisprudence to establish the jurisprudential theory of social justice.
Keywords
Social Justice in Jurisprudence
Justice as an Individual Virtue
Justice as the Implementation of Sharia
Just law
Just Social Institutions

  • Receive Date 11 November 2023
  • Revise Date 18 February 2024
  • Accept Date 27 February 2024