A Sociological Analysis of the Concept of the “Social Heart” in the Thought of Mohammad Ali Shahābādi, with Emphasis on the Qur’anic Verse of Iʿtiṣām

Document Type : Research Article / Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Sociology, Department of Sociology, Social Sciences Research, Institute of Hawzah and University, Qom, Iran.

2 PhD student, Social Sciences Research, Institute of Hawzah and University, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

This study explores Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Shah Abadi’s sociological interpretation of the Qur’anic verse of Iʿtiṣām (Qur’an 3:103) as a foundation for a model of social order in Islamic societies. Shah Abadi introduces the concept of the “social heart” as a framework for reconstructing collective identity and cohesion among believers. Using a qualitative interpretive-analytical method and drawing upon his seminal work Shazrat al-Maʿarif, the study demonstrates that the “social heart” consists of three interrelated components: warm social interactions, faith-based fraternal relations, and Qur’anic norms. The findings highlight Shah Abadi’s critique of fragmented and cold social relations, emphasizing that only through affective and epistemic bonds among believers can the community become a vessel for divine guidance. This model not only provides a theoretical framework for analyzing solidarity and collective identity in Islamic societies but also offers practical implications for strengthening social ties and designing cultural interventions in contemporary Muslim contexts.

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Social Theories of Muslim Thinkers
Volume 16, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 109-125

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 26 November 2025
  • Publish Date: 21 March 2026

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