Shafaqna English- Imam Musa Sadr’s activism, according to his humanistic and inclusive views, which aims to promote humanity, has been able to reveal human identity in his social and political actions.
Social capital has different definitions, but regardless of the differences, one of the main axes of this concept regards connections and network/group relations. Accordingly, the activism of individuals or governments in social relations has a direct effect on reducing or increasing social capital.
As invisible wealth of societies, social capital also focuses on social interactions between humans and provides the context for the continuation and strengthening of relationships, cooperation, and interactions across different aspects of society. Thus, the quality and type of attachment can be effective in strengthening or weakening social capital.
Social capital in Imam Ali’s (AS) word
A comprehensive vertical trust between the authority and people as well as a horizontal trust among people themselves in the Imam Ali’s (AS) words brings about humans’ extended relationships with each other, which leads to establishing extra-group social capital.
Regarding two principles of faith and right seeking in establishing social relations, he reiterates such warm, continuous, and intimate relationships that lead to a comprehensive social capital, whose achievements encompass all believers in the Islamic world and all humans in the world, devoid of instrumental and material jobbery. Words and guidelines of the Imam form an eternal capital, which can be decisive verbally and practically to preserve and strengthen the social capital.
Activism that makes Imam Musa Sadr a social reference
Actions that empower the relationships and bonds of all human beings and build trust at all levels. Social capital is formed on this basis and in the vertical process it reaches the super-group stage by upgrading from intra-group, inter-group and extra-group stages.
The stage at which convergence between all individuals, groups and tribes in Lebanon and all human beings around the world is based on the view of the inherent dignity of human beings.
It is this kind of activism that makes Imam Musa Sadr a social reference and makes him a positive role model in Lebanon, the Islamic world and human societies to attract the hearts of human beings and resolve problems and crises and achieve understanding, interaction and world peace.
Imam Musa Sadr regards the creation as an extensive social network
According to Imam Musa Sadr’s thought, network concept, unlike the classic theories, is not only based on the human relationships, but also is made up of whole creation with its all obvious and hidden layers and aspects.
Sadr regards the creation as an extensive social network that being in accordance with it, benefits human by potential and de facto sources which are the achievements of the social capital of this enormous social network.
A preacher as a social reformer
A review of the collection of works and activities of Imam Musa Sadr shows that he presents a different pattern of religious preaching. Imam knows a preacher as a social reformer and emphasizing the attention paid to the justice by the preachers, he calls on them to strive for the preaching. In his view, the preacher’s purpose is to cultivate humankind on the road to perfection, and the noble role of the religious scholar is man-making and upbringing of human beings.
In his preaching, Imam has used two tools of speech and conversation more than other tools. In the dimension of preaching, he describes five ways: tolerance and permissiveness, the use of religion in the life affairs, service-oriented practical preaching, preaching based on the human nature, and modelling as preferred methods of preaching. He believes that serving the people as the main function of the religions and holds that preaching religion by serving people and paying attention to their economic well-being can be effective in increasing the tendency toward religion; therefore, in the field of audience, field study of social issues and audience recognition, and familiarity with spiritual needs is essential.
Imam Musa Sadr worked tirelessly to improve the lot of his community in Lebanon – to give them a voice, to protect them from the ravages of war and inter-communal strife.
Sources: Jiss.isca.ac.ir, Journals.dte.ir, IRNA