Journal of Razavi Culture

Abstract One of the main characteristics of Imam Reza's menology was his encounters with the representatives of other religions in the context of debates which turned into an arena for protecting Islamic ideologies, Imamate, Shia's legitimate beliefs and especially his rightfulness and competency to Imamate and Caliphate while al-Ma'mun –the Abbasid Caliph- sought to benefit from such debates otherwise. His solid arguments, citation to first-hand sources of Abrahamic religions and full knowledge over the languages and interpretations of Holy Scriptures are among the most amazing features of these debates which led to Imam Reza's victory and the other party's failure at the end of each debate.
This article answers questions including: Discourse-analysis speaking, how are Imam Reza's debates analyzed? What aspects of the both parties of such debates are revealed during these analyses? What are the characteristics and capacities of Imam Reza's debates in terms of verbal communication and religious propagation?
By answering these questions, this paper seeks to view these debates differently and examine them critically by applying critical discourse analysis in form of variables and functional items. Exploring Imam Reza's debates with the representatives of other religions and sects with an eye on words, perspective, metaphor, historical coherence, citation and structural emphasis indicates that though proving his rightfulness and rejecting the other party's claims, Imam Reza avoided unethical dispute and used such debates as a platform to prove Imamate and the Holy Prophet's Seal of Prophecy through precision, accuracy, politeness and respect.

Abstract   Prophets and their successors are chosen in different times and places. A reason to this is to teach various life conditions to the followers. One prophet's invitation and endeavor became connected to political turmoil and another's to economic corruption while one's to moral decline. Among divine Prophets and Imams, two are deeply connected to issues of civilization, politics and culture of both Islam and humanity: Abraham and Imam Reza.
  In these two divine characters, though standing in two time and place extremes, remarkable similarities can be found besides their relativeness including their presence in two important civilizations, dealing with two rebellious political systems, broad geographical and international courses, dealing with various religions and the issue of debates and arguments.
  This article is a comparison between the menology of these two characters from cultural and civilization points of view. In this article, we see Imam Reza as a rightful heir to the father and leader of all Imams, Abraham (PBUH) given the requirements of time. Obviously, cultural and civilization review of Imam's menologies is a fundamental need for Islamic nations in the current critical and decisive period.

Abstract An important goal sought by holy prophets and their successors was to establish good life or ideal society. Although the term "Utopia" meaning the Idealized City is not mentioned in the Holy Quran or any other narrative texts, this issue is deeply rooted in the prophets' teachings and many verses and narratives regarding the objective and quality of ideal life or Hayat-e-Tayeba lead us towards it. From Holy Quran's point of view and as mentioned in many narratives by the Infallibles (Masoumin), achieving an Ideal Society is not only possible, but the main goal sought by the prophets.
The main question proposed by this article is what the features of the Ideal Society in Razavi Culture are. Quran and Ahl-al-Bayt are the two legacies left by the Holy Prophet and Imam Reza (PBUH), as a member of the Prophet's family, inherits from holy prophets and previous Imams. Both theoretically and practically, they struggled to realize this goal. This article examines the most important features of the Ideal Society as expected in Razavi Culture which include: objectivity, justice, beneficence, rule of Imam, development of knowledge and economic growth.

Abstract The issue of Imam Reza's succession to Caliphate in Abbasid Court was the most important political matter ever happened during the political history of the Imams. Al-Ma'mun offered the caliphate seat, for which his ancestors fought and struggled for many years and he willingly killed his own brother to have, to his family's rival through insist and threats and without any price to pay. Despite his ancestors' legitimate struggle to take back this seat, Imam Reza refused to accept the succession.
  This event brought up different assumptions for many researchers. With a political hypothesis and exploring some opinions that attribute Mu'tazilites or Shiite notions to al-Ma'mun, an with a brief eye on the issue of Imamate from the Shiite and Mu'tazilites points of view, this paper examines the succession issue outside the boundaries of political motivations and introduces the religious beliefs of the both parties involved as well as their political stands as effective factors in their insists and denials over the issue.

Abstract In his remarks, Imam Reza repeatedly speaks about Halal aliment and issues regarding it. Meanwhile, family is a subject addressed by the Imam precisely and he emphasizes on strengthening its institution and securing its welfare. This article, while naming the cases in which Halal aliment is mentioned, examines the relation between Halal aliment and solidity of family because due to its importance, Islam offers numerous approaches to strengthening families as well as ways to avoid enfeeblement of families.
 The importance of family in Islam is so much that the number of scriptures that emphasize on family solidity is more than those regarding establishing a family. For strengthening family institution, Imam Reza emphasizes on Halal aliment through issues including bonding with relatives (Seleye Rahem), respecting mutual rights, making others happy and being kind to them, avoiding jealousy, satisfaction, contentment and simple life.

Abstract Mental health is an important concept in interactions between family members which provides moral and material development and stimulus in all fields through generating awareness about moral and material factors effecting mental health and moderation in action and behavior. This article examines narratives attributed to Imam Reza (PBUH) regarding this issue in order to set a Razavi behavioral pattern for securing family's mental health.
Behavioral approaches in Razavi narratives, which are considered among the factors that secure mental health in families, take into account various aspects of family interactions. In regard to marriage as the basis of mental health in family, Imam Reza emphasizes on criteria such as time, consultation and faith.
After a family is established, he has recommendations for maintaining family's mental health regarding sexual needs, economic development and improving ethical attitudes in the interactions between the couple.