محمد تشکری آبقد

Unlike animals, which do not question the what and why of life, the question of life's meaning has always been relevant for humans and has been among the most significant concerns of both humanistic and divine schools of thought. In recent times, positive psychology has attempted to introduce itself as responsible for giving meaning to human life by focusing on key elements such as purposefulness, faith, hope, satisfaction, happiness, and flourishing. On the other hand, Islamic teachings, particularly the illuminating instructions of Imam Reḍa (AS), have also introduced the most important pillars that give life meaning, such as freedom, contentment, faith, servitude, purposefulness, knowledge, the pure life ( ḥayāṭ al-ṭayyibah ), happiness, pleasure, and so forth, thereby outlining a clear path for progress and attainment of life's purpose. The research question is: what is the relationship between the elements introduced in positive psychology and the teachings of Imam Reḍa, and what are their commonalities and differences? This article, with a descriptive-analytical approach, revisits and compares the meaning of life from the perspective of positive psychology and the teachings of Imam Reḍa, demonstrating their points of convergence and divergence. The two perspectives share elements such as the necessity of seeking meaning, faith, purposefulness, contentment, hopefulness, value-centricity, and positive confrontation with tribulations, etc. At the same time, they differ in some foundations, such as reliance on humanism and empiricism, the introduction of the ultimate end, and the determination of the status of faith.