Imam Ali

A constant yet complex question in the history of political thought is that of justice, which has been discussed by all political thinkers. Yet, different answers have always been provided to the question what justice or a just act is or what decision can be considered to be a just one. Nevertheless, as a concept throughout history, justice is also a topic constantly dealt with in divine religions, especially in Islamic thought. In Islamic thought, justice is by itself of such significance that it has been frequently discussed in the Holy Quran as well as in the tradition and, subsequently, has been one of the most controversial religious concepts analyzed by Islamic thinkers including philosophers, theologians and Islamic jurisprudents. The present article studies the concept of justice according to Imam Ali, especially because he is the only Infallible Imam throughout the history of Islam who functioned as the head of the political power and led the Islamic society through complex political events and with wide gaps.

SUBJECT & OBJECTIVES: The paper provides a functionalist analysis of human free will and its impact on lifestyle from the perspective of Imam Ali . The discussion of free will and human influence over one’s actions is a significant issue in the fields of anthropology and theology, and it is interconnected with many topics in Islamic sciences and disciplines. Human beings possess various dimensions and characteristics, among which free will is a key feature. Imam Ali , in opposition to the prevalent deterministic interpretation, emphasized human free will and its impact on one’s actions. The belief in free will manifests in individuals’ lifestyles.METHOD & FINDING: In an analytical-descriptive method, this paper aims to examine the statements of Imam Ali  regarding human free will and its role in human lifestyle and progress. An active lifestyle or a passive lifestyle is considered a result of the belief in or denial of this free will. Progress and advancement in life, as well as divine happiness and reward, are achieved through free will, effort, and endeavor.CONCLUSION: Reward and punishment would be meaningless without free will. Effort and endeavor are fundamental aspects of lifestyle that arise from the belief in human free will. “An attempt to change undesirable conditions” and “Governance of belief” are among the manifestations of free will in individuals’ lifestyles. Man must strive to preserve freedom and not allow beliefs and values to be controlled by emotions.

This article intends to study and reinterpret the concept of freedom, focusing on the Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (PBUH) ruling era. The main question of the research is whether it is possible to achieve a concept beyond Western nationalist freedom in the Alawi discourse. This research faces two variables in its analysis. The independent variable is the Alawi government, which needs to be reinterpreted with a historical explanation in drawing practical policy during the Alawi government. The dependent variable is the concept of freedom in a general sense, which has been emphasized in the meaning of freedom according to the Companions of the Contract (Hobbes and Locke). The assumption of the article is a discursive look at the concept of freedom and aims a modern reinterpretation of the practical policy of Imam Ali (PBUH), that is, a policy based on the social contract of obedience and security, to achieve an alternative meaning of freedom for a blissful life. The research findings show that freedom in the Alawi discourse, unlike the modern Western discourse, has an internationalist and universal meaning manifested in the field of action and practice in addition to thought and opinion. The research method is analytical-historical.