Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Islamic Studies Department, Faculty of Humanities, Arak University, Arak, Iran
2
Postdoctoral Researcher, Islamic Studies Department, Faculty of Humanities, Arak University, Arak, Iran
3
Assistant Professor, Family Department, Faculty of Law and Jurisprudence, Baqir al-Olum University, Qom, Iran
Abstract
One of the fundamental issues in Islamic societies is the interaction between tawakkul (trust in God), a theological and doctrinal concept, and the recommendation to engage in work. Some perspectives interpret tawakkul as abandoning effort and passively awaiting divine provision, whereas others view it as a motivational force for striving and economic activity. This study aims to examine the compatibility between tawakkul and the recommendation to work in Nahjul-Balagha. The research employs a qualitative content analysis method, examining the sermons, letters, and aphorisms of Nahjul-Balagha. The central question is how the concept of tawakkul in Nahjul-Balagha aligns with the encouragement to work, divine destiny, and self-sufficiency. The hypothesis proposes that Imam Ali (AS) does not regard tawakkul as contradictory to effort; rather, he presents it as a stimulus for work and self-reliance. Moreover, the concept of divine destiny in Nahjul-Balagha is not interpreted as fatalism, but as a framework for intelligent effort and the utilization of available opportunities. The findings indicate that Amir al-Mu'minin (AS), in his guidance, considers work and economic effort a divine obligation and introduces tawakkul as a source of endurance in the face of hardship. A review of Nahjul-Balagha reveals that Imam Ali’s (AS) emphasis on effort and self-sufficiency is grounded in a semantic framework where tawakkul functions as a motivational and sustaining force along the path of striving. Ultimately, the teachings of Imam Ali (AS) offer a comprehensive model for the interaction between human effort, divine destiny, and trust in God—one that fosters social justice and economic independence within society.
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