A Comparative Study of the Theory of Social Justice in the Thought of Imam Sajjad (AS) (Based on Sahifa Sajjadiya) and John Rawls

Abstract

One of the most important social issues in society is social justice, which the Shiite Imams have strived to manifest both practically and theoretically. Imam Sajjad (AS), in various prayers found in Sahifa Sajjadiya, places significant emphasis on this issue. The main objective of this article is to conduct a comparative analysis of the theory of social justice in the two intellectual frameworks of Imam Sajjad (AS) and John Rawls. To achieve this goal, the method of comparative analysis has been employed. In this study, the principles and concepts of social justice in the examined thoughts are analyzed and compared. The findings of this research indicate that Imam Sajjad (AS) and John Rawls have different perspectives and approaches regarding social justice. In the thought of Imam Sajjad (AS), social justice is founded on religious principles and theism, with an emphasis on the fair distribution of wealth, elimination of discrimination, and valuing the realization of social ethics. On the other hand, John Rawls defines justice as an agreement among individuals with diverse viewpoints, emphasizing the preservation of fundamental rights of each individual and the fair distribution of wealth based on social agreements.