دین کی سماجی تفسیر اور علامہ طباطبائی: ایک تحلیلی جائزہ

The Social Interpretation of Religion and Allama Tabataba'i: An Analytical Review

Abstract

Some sociologists, as well as some intellectuals who study religion from a social perspective, believe that religion is a social behavior whose source is social factors. These people consider religion to be merely a social phenomenon. The present article consists of an explanation and commentary of the views of Allama Syed Muhammad Hussain Tabatabai (may Allah have mercy on him) in refuting the above-mentioned social interpretation of Islam. This article presents a comparative review of the views of Western sociologists and sociologists such as Marx, Durkheim and Weber and Allama Tabatabai.

This article makes it clear that those thinkers who consider religion to be merely a social phenomenon and human behavior are, in fact, incapable of understanding the true reality of religion. They have considered religion to be merely the result of human social needs or historical factors. However, according to Allama Tabatabai, the source of religion is a metaphysical reality and being, namely God Almighty. He considers religion to be a transcendental, divine and natural reality that is in harmony with human reason, nature and revelation. According to him, religion is a complete and comprehensive system of life, which not only reforms man individually but also builds his collective life on the basis of order, justice, empathy and unity.

In the present paper, in order to prove the universality and immortality of religion, it has been made clear that the religion of Islam is not a guidance for any particular nation but for all humanity. Finally, it was concluded that a true understanding of religion is possible only when it is accepted as a divine, natural and social reality, as Allama Tabatabai has presented in his commentary and philosophical works.