Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Futures Studies, Faculty of Strategic Management, Higher National Defense University, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Human growth and flourishing are among the most fundamental concerns of the Islamic epistemological framework, emphasized in the Qur’an and the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a) through concepts such as self-purification (tazkiyah), nearness to God (qurb), rationality, servitude (‘ubūdiyyah), and justice. However, in the face of modern civilizational challenges and competing discourses—such as technological secularism and transhumanism—there is a pressing need to re-read and reinterpret these teachings through the lens of futures studies. This qualitative and applied research, using conceptual and interpretive analysis of Islamic texts along with thematic content analysis, aims to present a conceptual model for human growth and flourishing within the horizon of the New Islamic Civilization. In the first phase, over 120 religious concepts related to human development were identified; these were refined and categorized into 25 key concepts and 12 main themes. These themes were then analyzed from a futures-oriented perspective. Based on causal-transformational relationships between the themes, a four-level conceptual model was developed, comprising: (1) stages of growth (from innate awakening to civilizational expectation), (2) drivers (such as divine motivation and the Prophetic lifestyle), (3) structural prerequisites (including just governance and civilizational institutions), and (4) final objectives (such as the monotheistic society, ḥayāt ṭayyibah, and paving the way for the appearance of the savior). The proposed model conceptualizes human growth as a dynamic and civilizational process—moving from inner refinement to societal transformation—and offers a comprehensive framework for designing educational, cultural, and governance strategies in the context of the New Islamic Civilization. This study, by integrating Islamic teachings with futures thinking, provides a novel contribution to Islamic theorization in the domain of civilizational anthropology.
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