The Continuity of Asha in Post-Islamic Culture

Abstract

In the foundations of ontology and anthropology, Iranian philosophy encompasses a unified order governing the entire cosmos. This order, referred to as "Asha," manifests in various dimensions and governs all existence, both material and immaterial, through continuous and purposeful movement. What the author seeks to explore in this research is how the semantic scope of Asha is defined in the Avesta, how it is reflected in Iranian thought, and by examining cultural works and beliefs of Iranians in Iranian-Islamic and earlier sources, trace Asha as a religious belief embedded in cultural norms and rituals. Thus, in this study, considering the assumption that many Iranian beliefs and duties are rooted in the true meaning of Asha as the framework of Iranian spiritual and ontological thought, an attempt has been made to explain the political, individual, and social beliefs that have emanated from the Asha-based thinking of ancient Iranians and Zoroastrians, using a descriptive-analytical method based on interpretive experience.