Rereading and interpreting the ideas of leading Muslim thinkers
mousa anbari; sedigheh piri
Abstract
Poverty is a multi-meanings concept which has underwent conceptual modifications in different ages. In the current study we seek to review some poverty studies since the rise of Islam in Iran. Our data are collected and analyzed using literary writings and historical texts. The selected texts were classified ...
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Poverty is a multi-meanings concept which has underwent conceptual modifications in different ages. In the current study we seek to review some poverty studies since the rise of Islam in Iran. Our data are collected and analyzed using literary writings and historical texts. The selected texts were classified based on four general themes, namely Sufism, ethics, teaching, and fotowwat writings (letters on chivalry). In particular, we used a text-based historical method to analyze the gathered data. The findings indicate that there are some interrelated and synonymous concepts for poverty which are difficult to understand without considering its various meanings. In addition, we found historical connotations of the concept of poverty. According to the results, the nature of poverty can be interpreted and classified into two categories: virtues and vices. Our results also suggest that poverty is mainly understood as a cultural interpretation. It is a conceptual chain that carries many ethical meanings including piety, abstinence, contentment, and deliverance. As a result, the removal of poverty requires such a cultural understanding.
