Imam Reza’s (A.S.) Civilizational Approach to Education

The educational conduct (sīrah) of Imam Reza (A.S.) possesses profound epistemological, pedagogical, and civilizational capacities. Examining this conduct through the lens of Islamic civilization-building enables a systematic analysis of the reciprocal relationship between human education and the formation of culture and civilization. The aim of this study is to elucidate the civilizational role and function of Imam Reza’s educational approach within the historical context of his Imamate, and to analyze its impact on Islamic civilization. This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method, including both conceptual and documentary analysis. Through this methodology, propositions indicative of Imam Reza’s civilizational approach to education were gathered from various hadith compilations. Subsequently, the study analyzed the contextual foundations, principles of civilizational education, and methods employed in Imam Reza’s educational conduct. The findings revealed that contextual factors such as the golden age of Imam Reza’s era, his acceptance of the position of Crown Prince and the accompanying educational challenges, his civilization-building migration to Iran, scholarly debates, and the establishment of religious rationalism contributed to elevating his educational conduct from individual instruction to a civilization-building paradigm. The foundational principles of civilizational education in his sīrah were analyzed along five main axes: monotheism-centeredness (tawḥīd), human equality, the human role in determining destiny, dignity-oriented pedagogy, and educational justice. Furthermore, educational methods with a civilizational approach in Imam Reza’s sīrah were explored across three domains: cognitive education, emotional education, and behavioral education.