Maarij

Maarij

The Inherent Dignity of Human Beings and Its Fundamental Components in the Qur’an: A Comparative Study of the Views of Allameh Tabataba’i and Ayatollah Javadi Amoli

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic Interpretation and Sciences, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran.
2 , PhD Student in Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran. (Corresponding Author)
Abstract
This article aims to explain the components of the inherent human dignity (Karāmat Dhātiyya) in the Holy Quran, from the perspective of Allameh Tabatabai and Ayatollah Javadi Amoli. The research methodology is descriptive, analytical, and comparative, based on the interpretive and written works of these two scholars. The objective is to identify the points of agreement, divergence, and distinction between the two commentators regarding the source, meaning, and components of this dignity, and to evaluate their interpretive views. The findings indicate that both commentators consider inherent dignity a universal divine gift for all mankind, encompassing both believers and disbelievers. The main point of divergence lies in determining the components. Allameh Tabatabai, based on the apparent meaning of the verses, considers inherent dignity as the totality of man's potential and actual created possessions (Takwīnī), both physical and spiritual. In contrast, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli posits that man's Divine Spirit (Rūḥ al-Ilāhī) is the exclusive source of dignity, viewing the body merely as a vessel for its manifestation. He maintains that inherent dignity is a multi-level reality (Dhū Marātib), whose manifestations include both physical and spiritual dimensions. The view of Allameh Tabatabai, emphasizing the involvement of physical components, is more consistent with the apparent meaning of the verses, while Ayatollah Javadi Amoli's view demonstrates greater analytical depth on the subject.
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