The Position of Social Justice in Legislation: A Case Study of Imam Reza's Narrations

The teachings of Islam consist of beliefs, ethics, and jurisprudence. From the teachings of Imam Reza (pbuh), it is inferred that Islamic law is based on real benefits and harms. One of the criteria and benefits upon which divine law is founded is "justice," particularly "social justice." Accordingly, divine law has been established to uphold social justice, and achieving justice while preventing oppression is impossible without implementing divine law. Among the key aspects of Islamic jurisprudence is the necessity of a just ruling system, as emphasized by Imam Reza (pbuh), whose purpose is to realize social justice. Another significant focus in Imam Reza’s narrations is the recommendation to observe the social rights of religious minorities (People of the Book), particularly through adherence to justice in their wills. These two principles are among the most essential elements for establishing a justice-oriented civilization. The foundation of Sharīa based on justice is referred to as "legislative justice," which serves as the central theme of this study. This article examines legislative justice in three areas as reflected in Imam Reza’s narrations: the alignment of rulings with real benefits and harms, the observance of justice in the wills of People of the Book, and the necessity of justice in governance. Furthermore, it discusses how divine legislation relates to justice, especially social justice, as portrayed in these narrations.