Document Type : Original Article
Author
Associate Professor, Department of Political Philosophy, Research Institute of Political Science and Thought, Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Purpose: The primary objective of this article is to investigate and analyze the theoretical and civilizational dimensions of Imam Musa al-Sadr's opposition to the Zionist regime, alongside the practical measures he undertook to confront it. Imam Sadr's famous viewpoint that "Israel is the absolute evil" is often interpreted as a merely political stance or a reaction to the insecurity inflicted upon the Shiites of southern Lebanon. However, this research seeks to prove the hypothesis that his opposition is rooted in a profound civilizational analysis. The paper answers the key question: what are the intellectual and theoretical foundations of this civilizational confrontation, and how did Imam Sadr translate these foundations into practice, particularly within the context of Lebanon? The central idea, inferred from his works, is that the challenge posed by the Zionist regime is inherent to Western civilization, and confronting it requires establishing a resistance front based on an authentic Islamic-civilizational identity.
Methodology: The research methodology of this article is descriptive-analytical, grounded in documentary and library research. The required data was gathered through a comprehensive review of Imam Musa al-Sadr's written works, speeches, and statements. This data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Within this framework, the theoretical components of Imam Sadr's civilizational challenge to the Zionist regime—including his critique of the philosophy of Judaism and his emphasis on the central role of Al-Aqsa Mosque as a symbol of the unity of religions and civilizations—were extracted and explained. Subsequently, his practical actions, such as the formation of a "Resistance Front" and the establishment of the "Amal Movement," were examined and analyzed within the context of his civilizational approach. The ultimate goal is to discover and represent the meaningful and logical connections between the intellectual foundations and
practical actions of Imam Musa al-Sadr in his confrontation with the Zionist regime.
Findings: The findings of this research reveal that Imam Musa al-Sadr's confrontation with the Zionist regime was profoundly multidimensional and civilizational in nature. From a theoretical perspective, he critiqued the philosophy of Judaism as the ideological source of racial and religious supremacy. Citing Quranic verses, Sadr criticized a mindset that leads to oppression and ethnic superiority, emphasizing that his opposition was directed at the "philosophy governing Judaism," not at Jewish people as human beings. He believed this same philosophy underpinned the formation of Nazism and Fascism.
Furthermore, Al-Aqsa Mosque in Sadr's thought is not merely a religious site but a symbol of the unity of divine civilizations and a crossroads for the Abrahamic faiths. He referred to Jerusalem as the "authentic source of all global civilizations," whose occupation by Zionism signifies the destruction of this civilizational pluralism.
On the practical front, Imam Sadr viewed Israel as a continuation and product of Western civilization, created to safeguard Western interests in the region. Consequently, he considered resistance against it a civilizational necessity for the Islamic world. He believed resistance was the only viable path and institutionalized it by establishing the Amal Movement (Lebanese Resistance Detachments) to both defend southern Lebanon against Israeli aggression and prepare Shiites for a "civilizational response" by strengthening their cultural, social, and economic foundations. He also placed special emphasis on shifting global public opinion as a key factor in ending Israeli domination.
Conclusion: This research concludes that Imam Musa al-Sadr's approach to the Zionist regime was not a simple political or temporary opposition but rather a profoundly civilizational strategy. He understood that Israel was not just an aggressive state but a symbol and tool of a materialistic and unethical civilization seeking to erase authentic identities and destroy the possibility of peaceful coexistence among religions in the region. He therefore rose to confront it both theoretically and practically. In his view, resistance against this regime was not only a right but a civilizational duty for reclaiming the historical role of the Islamic Ummah.
By intelligently combining theoretical foundations (critiquing the philosophy of Judaism and reviving the civilizational status of Jerusalem) with practical actions (supporting Palestinian resistance, founding the Amal Movement, and striving to awaken public opinion), Imam Sadr provided a model for how to effectively respond to a civilizational challenge. This study suggests that the civilizational perspectives of Imam Musa al-Sadr can serve as a framework for analyzing contemporary resistance movements and forming civilizational alliances within the Muslim world, warranting further attention and investigation.
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