Imam al-Riḍā

Social justice in the modern state is among those concepts whose essence and implementation are difficult to trace historically, particularly in Islamic history and the conduct (sīra) of the Infallibles. Understanding concepts such as the state, democracy, and social justice from religious foundations is itself a formidable task. The challenge becomes even greater when this complex notion of social justice is further subdivided into more specific domains, such as cultural justice, and examined through the lens of the conduct. This study aims to analyze Imam al-Riḍā’s activism in promoting cultural justice through a descriptive-analytical method. His engagement appears to be explicable across three main areas. First, the debate between agency and structure within justice studies can be specifically traced in Imam al-Riḍā’s conduct. Notably, he not only advanced justice through individual actions but also created structural opportunities, having directly entered existing structures. Second, cultural diversity—recognized as a pillar of cultural justice—is evident in his practice. Third, in the tension between teleology and deontology within cultural justice, teleology holds a distinguished position in Imam al-Riḍā’s conduct. This article elucidates these three dimensions.

The “power distance,” as a key index for analyzing rulers’ political conduct and the extent to which inequality in power distribution is accepted, serves as an effective tool for assessing the status of justice in historical societies. Using a descriptive–analytical method, this study examines the manifestation of this concept in the conduct of Imam al-Rida (PBUH) during his period as crown prince ( Wilayat alʿahd ). The findings indicate that, despite his exceptional political position, the Imam offered a novel model of low-distance governance, which explicitly contrasts with the prevailing Abbasid discourse. The study identifies five main components in the Radawi political practice: (1) criticism of closed, circle-based relationships and emphasis on meritocracy in appointments; (2) opposition to authoritarianism and its symbols, such as displays of grandeur; (3) a responsible attitude toward public wealth; (4) accessibility to the general populace; and (5) respect for human dignity regardless of social distinctions. Collectively, these indicators reflect the Imam’s approach to justice in its distributive, procedural, and interactional dimensions. Significantly, by conditionally accepting the position of crown prince, the Imam deliberately refrained from exploiting the privileges of power, thereby practically demonstrating that reducing power distance is a prerequisite for realizing comprehensive justice. This model is not only unique in historical Islamic studies but can also serve as an applicable paradigm for contemporary governance in Islamic societies. From a methodological standpoint, the present work is innovative in being the first systematic study of power distance during Imam al-Rida’s tenure as crown prince.

Visiting religious sites is one of the customary programs in the journeys of diplomats and officials from Muslim countries when traveling to other Islamic lands. The shrine of the eighth Shiʿi Imam in the holy city of Mashhad—which is considered the most important pilgrimage site in Iran—has, in the last century, received dozens of Sunni statesmen. This study, conducted through a descriptive–analytical method, seeks to identify the reasons for the pilgrimage of these figures to the shrine of Imam al-Rida (PBUH). The findings indicate that the Sufi inclinations of certain Muslim statesmen constituted one of the reasons for their visitation to the Imam al-Rida’s shrine. Some Muslim politicians, such as Zahir Shah, Abul Kalam Azad, Imran Khan, Abdoulaye Wade, Benazir Bhutto, and others, from countries including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Senegal, and beyond, when visiting Iran, traveled to Mashhad with the intention of pilgrimage to Imam al-Rida’s shrine. In their homelands, these individuals were known for supporting Sufism or for their affiliation with ṭarīqas such as the Suhrawardiyya, Qādiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Chishtiyya, and Murīdiyya, and there exist numerous reports of their pilgrimages to Sufi shrines. Accordingly, it seems that these political leaders, whether by conviction or out of reverence for the position of Imam al-Rida (PBUH) within Sufi silsilas undertook the visitation of his tomb. In this respect, one may expect that the shrine of Imam al-Rida could serve as a point of reliance contributing to the improvement and strengthening of political and cultural relations.

Citizenship rights constitute a universal and comprehensive concept encompassing political, economic, social, cultural, and civil dimensions, and they extend to all age and gender groups. Children, as an essential segment of society, also possess specific rights, which are recognized in international instruments, most notably the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In this regard, certain aspects of children’s rights in Islam may be understood in terms of citizenship rights. The primary objective of this study is to examine the components of children’s citizenship rights within the conduct ( sīra ) of Imam al-Rida. The central question is: What are the manifestations and components of children’s citizenship rights in the Imam al-Rida’s conduct? This investigation demonstrates that children’s rights—including health (through principles of nutrition, personal hygiene, and family hygiene), the provision of tranquility and comfort in the home, religiosity and emphasis on spiritual and religious dimensions in child-rearing, rational education and training of children, and affectionate and compassionate treatment—are all evident in the practical conduct and hadiths narrated from Imam al-Rida. The Radawi tradition’s emphasis on children’s specific rights may be regarded as a model for Islamic approaches to citizenship rights, which can also be articulated within binding legal instruments.