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A Semantic Study of the Term Siyāsat (Politics) in Nahj al-Balāghah: With Emphasis on Paradigmatic and Syntagmatic Relations
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Zeinat al-Sadat Tabatabaei   , Mohammad Marefat1 , Tayyebeh Akbari Rad |
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Abstract: (1264 Views) |
| Politics (siyāsat), as one of the essential foundations of human social life, has always attracted the attention of thinkers and scholars. In religious texts—particularly in Nahj al-Balāghah of Imam ʿAlī (as)—this term is employed within diverse and expansive syntagmatic relations. Lexical words such as tadbīr (management), iṣlāḥ (reform), and riyāsat (leadership) function as paradigmatic substitutes that enrich its semantic scope and underscore the elevated status of siyāsat in Islamic social conduct. This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the meaning and multidimensional aspects of siyāsat in Nahj al-Balāghah, clarifying its role in promoting justice and responsibility. The study adopts a textual and comparative analytical method to investigate both the contextual usage and the relational semantics of the term. The findings reveal that within its syntagmatic axis, siyāsat conveys a protective connotation when associated with concepts such as steadfastness (istiqāmat), trustworthiness (amānat), and affection (mawaddat); whereas in its paradigmatic axis, when occurring alongside ḥikmat (wisdom) and qiyādat (leadership), its strategic and directive dimension becomes apparent. These results contribute to a deeper understanding and more precise articulation of the principles underlying Islamic political thought. |
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| Keywords: Semantics, Nahj al-Balāghah, Politics (Siyāsat), Imam ʿAlī (as), Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic Relations. |
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Full-Text [PDF 361 kb]
(1008 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/11/15 | Accepted: 2025/11/15 | Published: 2025/11/15
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