Journal of Razavi Culture

Abstract This research is written with the aim of determining and explaining the foundations of strengthening the family institution in the teachings of the Quran and Hadith and in an analytical-descriptive method, and it states that these foundations can be investigated in the verses of the Quran and the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH) in the two periods before and after marriage. . Since the main pillars of the family are the man and the woman, choosing a worthy spouse before marriage is the most important principle in strengthening the family institution. If the choice of a spouse is made wisely and based on stable principles, then the first step in strengthening the family institution has been taken. The most important principles for choosing a spouse; Being equal in dignity, religion, morals, and the originality of the couple's family. After marriage, good association, moderation and moderation in all stages of life, expression of love and affection, patience in problems and forgiveness of mistakes, knowing each other and mutual understanding and placing justice and fairness in relationships are the most important foundations of strengthening the family institution. They form The result is that careful selection before marriage and good and pleasant morals and good socializing after marriage are the most important factors that can build a strong and stable tent and protect the foundation of the family from possible harm and damage.

Abstract One of the fundamental duties of Islam is enjoining good and forbidding evil. The appearance of some narrative evidence indicates the necessity of this obligation. On the other hand, there are narrations that list the limitations for the establishment of obligation. Zahir, one of the narrations transmitted by Imam Reza (a.s.) is a guide to the unworthiness of giving advice because it is unfortunate for the audience. This essay is based on a descriptive-analytical method in order to assess the correlation of this hadith with the guiding evidences on the duty of commanding what is good and forbidding what is bad. In order to achieve this goal, the possible reasons for the Imam's refusal to give advice have been highlighted and criticized as follows: the advice is seditious, it is not effective in the audience, the advice is instructive, and the obnoxious action in question is not included in the level of negation. In the last step, with the benefit of the significance analysis of the evidences showing the conditions for the obligation of this obligation in the field of being effective, as well as the guiding traditions on the conditions of effective advice, the selected point of view has been organized. The evaluation of the research is that relying on some historical documents and jurisprudential evidences, it is necessary that the narration is related to things that there is certainty about the ineffectiveness of admonition.

Abstract Abstract
Cultural and artistic industries, due to their impact on cultural identity and their crucial role in the creative economy, require effective marketing strategies. Despite the significance of this field, limited research has focused on identifying the dimensions and components of marketing strategies in these industries. Therefore, the main question of this study is: What are the dimensions and components of marketing strategies in the Astan Quds Razavi Institute of Artistic Creations, and how are the relationships between these dimensions structured. This qualitative research was conducted using thematic analysis through coding and causal cognitive mapping with the UCINET software. In the first phase, a review of relevant academic articles from the past ten years was conducted, leading to the selection of 60 articles. Then, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight experts from the institute using purposive sampling. Finally, causal cognitive mapping was employed to explain the relationships among the identified components.The findings revealed a total of 170 basic themes and 40 organizing themes. The marketing strategies at the Astan Quds Razavi Institute of Artistic Creations encompass seven overarching themes: environmental analysis, market segmentation, positioning, targeting, product, pricing, and advertising. Additionally, the relationships among these variables indicate that marketing strategy dimensions are not only significant independently but also interact dynamically, forming a comprehensive and interconnected system. Among them, targeting and environmental analysis have the greatest impact.The proposed model can serve as an effective tool for enhancing marketing efforts in cultural and artistic industries, strengthening the institute’s competitive position in the market.

Abstract Reverse glass painting, as an ancient genre in Islamic art of Iran, with its unique combination of color and transparency, has served as a medium for narrating stories and conveying religious concepts within the Shiite context. In this regard, the representation of miracles and symbols associated with Imam Reza in reverse glass paintings holds particular significance. The artworks preserved in the Museum of Reverse Glass Painting in Tehran reflect diverse manifestations of such symbolic imagery in the form of halos of light, sacred footprints (Qadamgah), and animal motifs.
The aim of this study is to analyze the visual and semantic structures of symbols attributed to Imam Reza (A.S.) in seven selected paintings from the museum. The central research question asks: What symbolic reflections of Imam Reza are identifiable in the composition, color palette, and arrangement of animal and spatial elements in these artworks?
The research method is qualitative and follows a descriptive-analytical approach. Data were collected through library research and field observation, and analyzed using a semiotic-symbolic framework, focusing on the themes of “The Guardian of the Deer” (Zāmen-e Āhū) and the event of Imam Reza’s poisoning.
Findings reveal that the artists, through symmetrical arrangement of elements, symbolic use of colors, and the employment of halos and animal signs such as deer, camel, and wolf, reinforce concepts such as intercession, mercy, the contrast between sanctity and worldly threats, and the transcendence of time and space.
The convergence in visual structure alongside qualitative differences in execution highlights the variety of narrative techniques and emphasizes multiple layers of meaning.
Analyzing these symbols not only unveils the depth of meaning in the artworks but also facilitates understanding the cultural and religious significance of reverse glass painting in conveying Shiite teachings, particularly in relation to the lofty status and character of Imam Reza .

Abstract Throughout history, European travel writers and tourists interested in visiting the Razavi Shrine often traveled to Mashhad without knowing the specific rules of the Razavi Shrine and its sanctuaries. During their travels, tourists would ask their Muslim companions, who were on their way to visit the Shrine, They rarely mentioned in their travelogues any reports of their fellow travelers not being accepted, or any complaints or grievances about the regulations for travelers in pilgrimage caravans. However, when they arrived in Mashhad, based on their goals, which were mostly to tour and visit the historical complex of the Holy Shrine, They would encounter an unexpected challenge that would make them tired of the journey. Preventing non-Muslims from visiting the Holy Shrine was a problem during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, which made European tourists very reluctant to travel to Mashhad. The research method in this study is quantitative and qualitative with a descriptive approach based on events taken from European travelogues in the 13th and 14th centuries AH. This research seeks to find the answer to the question: What measures or reactions did non-Muslim travel writers have in order to create a ban on the Holy Shrine? This research seeks to find the answer to the question: What measures or reactions did non-Muslim travel writers have in order to create a ban on the Holy Shrine? The findings of this study indicate that a large number of them were subject to the legitimate laws and current regulations of the Holy Shrine and public opinion. Therefore, after understanding the limitations, they preferred not to even approach the sanctum sanctorum. Some people also entered the shrine of Imam Reza through legal channels and influence, and a few people have also visited or reported on the holy shrine using subtle tricks and special tricks.

Abstract Coins, as valuable material objects, possess various cultural functions beyond their economic role. Due to these cultural functions, from the late Qajar period, coins known as Ziyarat-Neshan were minted in Mashhad. Additionally, starting in 1950 CE (1328 SH), Astan Quds Razavi minted Imam Reza (AS) Birth Coins for use in religious ceremonies, which became a cultural symbol. Over time, these birth coins gained diverse functions within this significant endowment and were minted and widely used over three decades. No prior research has explored the functions of Ziyarat-Neshan and Imam Reza (AS) Birth Coins. Thus, this article addresses the key question: What functions did Ziyarat-Neshan and Imam Reza (AS) Birth Coins serve at Astan Quds Razavi? This historical study, conducted through library-based research using Astan Quds Razavi documents and Mashhad-printed newspapers, reveals that the newly minted coins, known as Ziyarat-Neshan in Mashhad and Imam Reza (AS) Birth Coins in Tehran, served multiple functions within this major endowment. They were distributed as gifts to guests on occasions such as Imam Reza’s (AS) birth anniversary, Imam Hussein’s (AS) birth anniversary, and Nowruz. Moreover, they were presented as blessed tokens to notable domestic figures such as athletes, ministers, courtiers, and foreign dignitaries—including presidents, ministers, their entourages, and other prominent pilgrims—participating in the shrine’s dust-clearing ceremonies. Additionally, a significant portion of the Imam Reza (AS) Birth Coins, due to their spiritual significance, were sold as blessed items in the Astan Quds Razavi Museum.
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Abstract One of the fundamental challenges in Islamic societies is the emergence of sedition, which threatens their security and social cohesion by creating an atmosphere of doubt and mixing truth with falsehood, and leads to the distortion of the religious and social foundations of the society's individuals. Given the importance of this issue, in order to achieve a society immune to sedition, it seems essential to recognize the components that provide immunity in dealing with them. The infallible Imams, especially Imam Ali and Imam Reza, have repeatedly described seditions and their consequences and have expressed effective solutions for dealing with seditions. This research aims to identify the immunity-giving components in the lives of these two Imams and to design a practical model for dealing with contemporary seditions. For this purpose, using a descriptive-analytical method and relying on Quranic verses and reliable narrational sources, the speeches of Amir al-Mu'minin and Imam Reza were examined in terms of immunity-giving components And a practical model for dealing with contemporary seditions is presented. The findings indicate that, in addition to common components such as adherence to the Quran, piety, insight, and patience, Imam Ali's life is focused on principles such as the implementation of justice, unity, and Imam Reza's life is focused on debates, educating a scientific generation, and taqiyyah. The research achievement is the extraction of a "sedition cycle management model" in four stages: prevention, detection, confrontation, and repair, which is presented as a three-level operational framework (individual, social, structural) for building immunity against contemporary seditions.This model can serve as a roadmap for cultural and social institutions in intelligently confronting the seditions of the present era.

Abstract Abstract
In many cultures, including the Islamic world, people believe that sacred places are the meeting point of heaven and earth, and that being buried in such places brings happiness after death. Therefore, people bury their deceased in sacred places whenever possible.The holy shrines of Imam Reza (AS) and his sister Hazrat Masoumeh (SA), due to their special sanctity, are the burial places of prominent individuals, especially religious scholars. The issue arises from the fact that due to the limited space and the exclusiveness of these places to a certain class, it raises the question of what kind of attitude pilgrims have towards the relatively exclusive burial of scholars near the shrines? In order to discover the meanings embedded in the minds of people who have experience of visiting the graves of scholars in the holy shrines, the author has examined their lived experience with a phenomenological approach by conducting semi-structured interviews and analyzing the themes contained in the responses. The results of the study show that, despite the initial assumption of the researcher, the positive themes of “special position and high personality”, “cultural authority and life model”, “having spiritual effects of graves”, “association of prior knowledge towards celebrities”, “impressive social services”, “spiritual care towards scholars”, “spirituality and mysticism of the buried”, “semantic affinity between scholars and Ahl al-Bayt” and finally “discrimination and disturbance” were evoked in the lived experience of the pilgrims. All the above organizing themes are categorized under the overarching theme of “positive view towards the burial of scholars in the Mashahed al-Musharrif.” The interviewees positively evaluated the burial of scholars and celebrities, provided that they avoided “discrimination” and did not cause “disturbance to pilgrims.”
Keywords: Graves of scholars, Imam Reza (AS), Hazrat Masoumeh (SA), Phenomenology, Holy place, Mashahed al-Mushorraif.

Abstract Abstract
Religious education in today's families faces the challenge of declining intrinsic motivation among adolescents towards religious teachings and duties, and common approaches such as duty-oriented, emotional-excitatory, and authoritarian methods have proven insufficiently effective. The hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS) can serve as a valuable foundation for designing alternative educational models. The noble hadith "Ihya al-Amr" (Reviving the Command) from Imam Reza (AS), emphasizing three core components—"Beauties of Discourse," "Teaching Sciences," and "Obedience"—provides a coherent and systematic framework for this purpose. This study aims to explain the educational implications of this hadith for reducing adolescent religious demotivation within the family context. This qualitative research employed directed content analysis. The full hadith text was extracted from "Uyun Akhbar al-Ridha" as primary data, and related traditions were utilized to deepen the understanding of concepts. Analysis steps included initial coding, categorization, determining causal relationships, and extracting practical implications. Three main categories emerged: "Beauties of Discourse" with two dimensions of rational-wisdom beauty and practical efficacy; "Teaching Sciences Accompanied by Role-modeling" with three conditions of deep learning, alignment of words and actions, and active teaching; and "Conscious Obedience" characterized by internal belief, openness to criticism, and stability. These categories form a causal chain based on the conditional clause "If they knew... they would surely follow us." The hadith emphasizes rational persuasion through displaying wisdom-based beauties and practical efficacy. Three technical implications for parents are: adopting a functional-aesthetic approach over a purely duty-oriented one; transitioning from a "silent role model" to an "explanatory role model" who narrates lived experience; and accepting adolescent questioning as a path to genuine obedience. The main limitation is the lack of field validation.

Abstract The transfer of Imam al-Riḍā (as) to Marv following his appointment as heir apparent placed him at the heart of a diverse multicultural environment. Within this historical context, and by the initiative of al-Ma’mun’s court, organized debate sessions were regularly convened between prominent representatives of various religions and theologians of diverse sects. The primary objective of this research is to identify the specific operational model and argumentative methodology underlying the Imam’s engagement with this religious diversity. While previous studies have often evaluated these sessions merely from a traditional theological perspective, the present article, utilizing a historical-analytical method based on a comparative reading of historical texts, focuses specifically on the structure and systematic logic of these dialogues. The primary research sources—specifically ʿUyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā, al-Tawḥīd, and al-Iḥtijāj—have been utilized with critical source-based scrutiny. The research findings indicate that these debates were grounded in a coherent operational model of “Jadal-e Ahsan” (better argumentation), the central feature of which is a “methodological gradation from Revelation to Reason.” This model consists of three fundamental components: rational reasoning coupled with a complete avoidance of takfir; compelling the interlocutor through their own sacred texts and accepted epistemological foundations; and maintaining the dignity of the opposing party throughout the debate. A comparative analysis of five landmark debates—with the Catholicos, the Exilarch, the Hirbadh, Imran al-Sabi, and Sulayman al-Marwazi—demonstrates the consistency, coherence, and dynamism of this operational model across vastly different situations. In this process, the Imam began the discourse from a point of textual commonality and, to avoid textual stalemates, elegantly elevated the level of the debate to pure rational proofs. Consequently, this article reconstructs the Riḍawi debates as a systematic historical model for interreligious dialogue.

Abstract Analyzing religious texts as artistic expressions of verbal communication is a vital aspect of contemporary scholarship. Scholars increasingly utilize interdisciplinary methods—drawing from literary criticism, linguistics, and semantics—to achieve deeper and more accurate interpretations of sacred discourse. Linguistic approaches, particularly in the study of religious texts, provide tools for examining structural and semantic elements scientifically, clarifying meanings and relationships embedded within. Roman Jakobson’s communication theory, with its detailed categorization of language functions, offers a powerful framework for such analysis. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical method based on Jakobson’s model to explore the balance and interaction of language functions in the Tawḥīd sermon of Imam al-Riḍā (A), which focuses on the oneness of God and His attributes. By emphasizing communicative roles of language, the research aims to enhance clarity and accessibility of monotheistic concepts for the audience. The findings reveal that the six language functions—emotive, referential, conative, poetic, phatic, and metalingual—work in harmony to deepen the connection between theological ideas and the listener. The emotive function conveys spiritual intensity and reverence; the referential function presents descriptions of divine attributes; the conative function directly engages the audience; the poetic function enriches aesthetic and rhetorical quality of the sermon; the phatic function maintains communicative flow; and the metalingual function clarifies theological terminology. This functional equilibrium transforms the sermon into an effective medium for transmitting monotheistic truths and facilitates a more profound engagement with divine concepts. Ultimately, the study proposes a linguistic model for analyzing religious texts, offering a structured approach to enrich understanding of monotheistic principles and providing a replicable framework for future research in religious linguistics. By bridging linguistic theory with theological content, this research contributes to a more nuanced comprehension of sacred texts and supports development of interpretive strategies that resonate with diverse audiences.

Abstract The present study aims to reassess the conduct of Imam Reza (AS) in confronting deviant intellectual currents, employing an approach based on cultural security studies. The main research question investigates how Imam Reza (AS), through the use of rational, textual, and social strategies, was able to control deviant intellectual currents while preserving the religious identity and cultural cohesion of the Islamic community. This study adopts an interdisciplinary methodology, combining qualitative content analysis of reliable historical and hadith sources—such as Al-Irshad by Shaykh Mufid, Uyoon Akhbar al-Ridha (AS) by Al-Saduq, Al-Ihtijaj by Al-Tabarsi, and Muruj al-Dhahab by Al-Masudi—with the theoretical framework of cultural security to examine the strategies and practical functions of Imam Reza (AS) in managing cultural threats. The findings indicate that scientific and rational debate, doctrinal boundary-setting, rational and textual explanation of religious teachings, establishment of cognitive prevention mechanisms, and extensive social interaction were among the principal tools employed by Imam Reza (AS) to safeguard religious identity and enhance the cultural resilience of society. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the conduct of Imam Reza (AS) can serve as a model for cultural and security management in addressing deviant intellectual currents in contemporary societies. By providing a novel interdisciplinary analysis, this research fills existing gaps in historical and theological studies on Imam Reza (AS) and offers a practical perspective for future investigations. By providing a novel interdisciplinary analysis, this research fills existing gaps in historical and theological studies on Imam Reza (AS) and offers a practical perspective for future investigations.

Abstract The aim of the present research is to identify the requirements and solutions for the realization of Islamic governance based on religious teachings and the Seerah of Imam Reza (AS) using a qualitative study method and a thematic analysis approach. The required information was collected through semi-structured deep interviews and analyzed using the Colaizzian pattern. The study population consisted of knowledgeable elites on the subject, including university professors, seminary scholars, and some Razavi researchers in Isfahan province in 1402, 13 of whom were interviewed based on theoretical and purposive sampling according to the saturation principle. Data analysis led to the extraction of three main themes, including Infrastructure (with three sub-categories of improving social relations, legal and ethical frameworks), Resources and Facilities (with two sub-categories of culture and technology, knowledge and information), and Support and Supervision (with three sub-categories of political-religious and ideological support, financial-credibility and security, and bilateral supervision) accompanied by 48 sub-concepts and 168 general concepts. The examination of the requirements and solutions for the realization of Islamic governance showed that the Seerah of Imam Reza (AS) is rich in political and social concepts and ideas that can provide a basis for the promotion of Islamic governance on one hand,

Abstract Norm-avoidance or defamiliarization was a term coined by Russian formalists, which was used in order to distance language from vulgarity and common linguistic habits. Semantic norm avoidance with different types of metaphors, similes, permissiveness, sensuality, contradiction, etc. leads its audience from the superficial layers of language to the depths of imagination. In children's and adolescent literature, this process is done by taking into account the age of the audience and their mental and psychological limitations so that the visual and semantic appeal of the linguistic elements does not make understanding the meaning difficult and complicated. It is more important to pay attention to the psychological features of the child and adolescent audience in the works that introduce religious figures. One of these successful works in recent years is the book Setare Man, which explains the most important moral principles of the 8th Imam (AS). The purpose of this descriptive-analytical research is to artistically present the high moral-educational concepts of the 8th Imam (AS) in the form of short stories, which, with the seasoning of fantasy elements, will make the teenage audience stop reading. In this research, by examining the stories, in addition to the moral twists, we have also paid attention to the aesthetic effects of the work and extracted them.The results of the present research indicate that the creator of the work has used the metaphor of the anthropomorphism (anthropomorphism) and sensory similes in the creation of literary images

Abstract In the contemporary era, characterized by the expansion of religious pluralism and increased intercultural interactions, designing effective models for interfaith dialogue has become a central issue in civilizational studies and cultural diplomacy. Despite a significant body of research on interreligious dialogue, the systematic utilization of the capacities within the Islamic tradition in this domain has received limited theoretical attention . The debates of Imam Reza with scholars of various religions and sects during the Abbasid Caliphate under al-Ma’mun exemplify a prominent instance of rational and methodical engagement with doctrinal diversity. However, these debates have often been analyzed merely from theological or historical perspectives, with their civilizational and diplomatic dimensions being less explored.

This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and employs qualitative content analysis to extract the components of dialogue diplomacy from the debates of Imam Reza , subsequently reinterpreting them within the theoretical framework of contemporary civilizational dialogue . The findings indicate that the “Rezaian model” is founded upon core principles such as prioritizing shared rationality, argumentation based on the interlocutor’s epistemic foundations, safeguarding human dignity, abstaining from conflict-oriented approaches, and favoring the pursuit of truth over dominance. This study, by presenting an indigenous and operational framework, bridges a gap in the existing theoretical literature and offers an innovative solution for managing contemporary religious and cultural challenges. These components can serve as an indigenous and effective foundation for strengthening religious diplomacy and effectively managing religious tensions in contemporary multi-religious societies, providing a valuable framework for enhancing intercultural and interreligious relations.

Abstract The debates of Imam al Ridā (A) with scholars of various religions and sects during the era of al Maʾmūn represent some of the most significant examples of rational dialogue within the Islamic tradition. These debates exhibit systematic methods of reasoning, persuasion, and linguistic interaction management. Examining these exchanges through the lens of applied linguistics can reveal new dimensions of their discursive mechanisms and communicative strategies. The present study aims to explain how Grice’s “Cooperative Principle” is employed in the Ridavian debates and seeks to analyze the ways in which the four conversational maxims—quantity, quality, relation, and manner—are fulfilled or intentionally flouted within these dialogues. The data have been collected from reliable historical and narrational sources reporting the debates, and analyzed using a descriptive analytical approach grounded in Gricean applied discourse analysis. The findings demonstrate that Imam al Ridā’s (A) discourse is largely characterized by strict adherence to the maxims of relation and quality, which contributes to maintaining the logical coherence of the dialogue and enhancing the epistemic credibility of the arguments. At the same time, purposeful violations or suspensions of certain maxims—especially quantity and manner—are observed, functioning rhetorically and argumentatively to generate effective conversational implicatures that reinforce audience persuasion. This indicates that, beyond their theological and doctrinal richness, the Ridavian debates display a deliberate and coherent structure from a linguistic interactional perspective. Based on the results, Grice’s Cooperative Principle provides an efficient analytical framework for examining communicative mechanisms and discursive strategies in Islamic debate texts.Grice’s Cooperative Principle provides an efficient analytical framework for examining communicative mechanisms and discursive strategies in Islamic debate texts.

Abstract The elites and the elites, as the link of knowledge between the Imam and the masses, play a decisive role in the intellectual destiny of societies. The present study, using the approach of "strategic inference" and the method of directional qualitative content analysis, has investigated the mechanisms of the influence of the elites on the growth or decline of society and the corresponding reform strategies of Imam Reza (AS). The findings show that the deviant elites in the Razavi era, with four coordinated mechanisms of destroying the source of knowledge (systematic fabrication of hadith), paralyzing the collective will (promoting predestination and delegation), replacing imagination with reason (similative storytelling), and sanctifying power (courting scholars), led the society to epistemic decline.In contrast, Imam Reza (AS) radically reformed the Wasit circle with four parallel and symmetrical strategies: doctrinal demarcation (explanation of the inter-ministerial order and rejection of predestination, delegation, analogy, and personification), elite networking (training more than 300 narrators and creating a network of lawyers), intelligent sanctions (prohibition of zakat and rejection of the testimony of court scholars), and practical modeling (letter to Imam Jawad (AS) emphasizing direct contact with the people). The theory derived from this research, namely “Managing the Wasit Circle,” claims that the center of reform in Razavi thought is not the masses of the people, but the elites themselves; and accordingly, it presents four operational indicators of avoiding predestination and delegation, membership in a network of aligned elites, ceasing cooperation with corrupt powers, and continuous contact with the masses for assessing and managing the elites in today’s societies.This article, for the first time, maps the Imam's mechanisms of destruction and reform strategies in a two-way and systematic model, providing a theoretical framework for reinterpreting the functioning of elites in the present era