Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Hazrat Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan, Iran
2 Master of Science in Quran and Hadith, University of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Qom, Iran
3 Ph.D. Student in Quran and Hadith Sciences, University of Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Family is the foundation of society and one of its most important elements. The discussion of this social foundation in the opinions and theories of social reformers, the most important of which are the prophets, shows its importance. The supreme leader of the revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, has also addressed this issue as a fundamental pillar in the Islamic society. In Islamic Iran, there are many problems, such as a decrease in the desire to marry, an increase in the age of the population, and a small number of households, etc. This research intends to extract, analyze and regulate strategic issues in the field of solutions to problems with the Qur'an-analyzing the thoughts and statements of the Supreme Leader. Also, by explaining the Qur'anic bases of the leadership's views on providing a revised definition of family, marriage criteria, stating the functions and factors of family consolidation, a practical solution has been taken to fulfill their orders.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Economic, cultural, social, and moral factors have led many to delay marriage and family formation. Housing, job issues, dowries, high household expenses, and social customs all contribute to financial burdens, discouraging marriage. Public messaging often misguides young people. The family is less stable than before, and family disintegration has increased.
According to the National Statistical Center, Iran’s population is shifting from youth to middle age, and the birth rate has dropped sharply. People are less inclined to marry, and the slowing population growth highlights the urgent need to address family issues, the core of society. Experts and specialists are now focused on this. Since the family is the foundation of every society—especially in the Islamic Republic of Iran—it now requires broad, effective, and scholarly policymaking and planning.
The Supreme Leader provides clear strategies, based on the Qur’an, to address family challenges. His position demands attention to his programs and recommendations. Most statements come from speeches, not written documents. Academics must compile these into a practical reference for scholars and the public.
For many years, the Supreme Leader, with a comprehensive and farsighted perspective, has drawn upon the teachings of the Qur’an to present strategies and guidelines aimed at resolving the challenges confronting families and proposing corrective measures. In view of the eminent position of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, attention to and implementation of his programs and recommendations are both essential and necessary. Many of his valuable directives on this subject have been delivered in the form of speeches and oral statements, rather than as written scientific documents. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the academic community to compile, organize, and present these insights in a structured, scholarly, and practical document that is accessible to intellectuals, researchers, and the general public.
To achieve this goal, we must identify and articulate the key ideas in the Supreme Leader’s statements and compile a comprehensive, user-friendly document. This task has not been done before. This study aims to fill that gap.
Research Question(s)
To clarify the central question of this study, it is necessary to begin with an important preliminary point. During the process of communication between a speaker and an audience, certain pieces of information that the speaker considers known to the listener are often not explicitly stated in language; however, they are nonetheless conveyed through the communicative act itself. In other words, the speaker may omit some information verbally but still convey it successfully to the listener. These unexpressed elements constitute only a portion of the information transmitted, standing in contrast to the information that can be inferred from what is explicitly said. The term "Presupposition" is used to refer to these unspoken yet communicated meanings (Ghaeminia, 2009, p. 263).
Thinkers' words often mean more than what is stated. Analysis is a close, deep examination (Moein, 2008, p. 831). This study will analyze the Qur’anic presuppositions in the statements of the Supreme Leader (may his eminence be preserved).
We refer to this process as Qur’an-analysis, also known as examining Qur’anic evidence or foundation analysis. Foundation analysis is the study of the primary presuppositions and theological-philosophical foundations underlying scientific theories or disciplines (Behjatpour, 2013, p. 25).
Literature Review
Analyze the foundational principles of Ayatollah Khamenei’s thought—a research area that has not yet been explored in previous academic studies. However, several works have examined his views on family-related issues from perspectives distinct from those of the present research.
Among these are:
Factors Undermining the Family from the Viewpoint of the Supreme Leader by Mahaddeseh Moeinifar and Maryam Moeinifar, published in Islamic Women and Family Research Journal, Vol. 8, No. 4 (2020).
Content Analysis of the Supreme Leader’s Views on Marriage and Family and the Presentation of a Family Model by Khoda Bakhsh Ahmadi Nodeh and Davood Nodehi published in Islamic–Iranian Family Studies Journal, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Summer 2022).
The Contexts of Child Rearing in the Qur’anic Thought of the Supreme Leader by Riyam Mousavi Fazel published in Islamic Gender and Family Studies Journal, Vol. 6, No. 11 (Autumn and Winter 2023–2024).
These studies each focus on certain parts of the Supreme Leader’s ideas about family. None, however, analyzes the Qur’anic foundations of his thought, which is the purpose of this study.
Methodology
In line with the research problem, this study provides a brief review of sociological perspectives on the family and, through a descriptive–analytical approach, examines selected statements of the Supreme Leader in this domain. It further conducts a Qur’anic analysis of his statements and ideas, aiming to present a practical pathway for the realization of his directives.
Results
The importance of the family is a subject emphasized in both religion and sociology, and it holds a central and foundational position within Islamic sciences. The formation of a family is considered essential to the completion of one’s faith and is regarded as one of the traditions of the Seal of the Prophets.
The Supreme Leader has also given particular attention to this fundamental pillar of society. In his statements, he refers to the family as a "Pure Word" that can be a source of abundant goodness and blessings. He elaborates on the material and spiritual functions of the family in various parts of his speeches, emphasizing their essential role in the perfection of human society.
Using Qur’anic verses (al-Naḥl, 97) and (Ibrāhīm, 23), he defines family and its functions. These, based on the Qur’an, include:
Personal development (al-Rūm, 21)
Identity formation (al-Baqarah, 170; al-Mā’idah, 104; al-A‘rāf, 28)
Fulfillment of sexual needs (Āl ʿImrān, 14; al-Nisā’, 27)
Procreation (al-Baqarah, 223)
Child rearing
Marriage criteria, particularly the principle of compatibility
He rejects materialistic views and says that faith compatibility is the primary criterion for marriage, ensuring family stability. This comes from Qur’anic verses (al-Nūr, 26; al-Nisā’, 3; al-Baqarah, 221).
The Supreme Leader also lists the key factors that strengthen families. Following them supports stability. They include:
Faith and adherence to Islamic injunctions (al-Ḥujurāt, 14)
Affection and love (al-Rūm, 21)
Self-knowledge
Modesty and observance of hijab (al-Nūr, 30–31)
All his statements are rooted in the Qur’an and Islamic traditions. They cover both spiritual and physical aspects of life. If followed, these recommendations will protect families, improve moral and social conditions, and help solve many of the problems facing Iranian society.
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