The Social Jurisprudence Department

The Social Jurisprudence Department was established in 2011 (1390 of solar Hijri calendar) under the auspices of the head the educational-research institution of the Pure Jurisprudence of Pure Imams, Ayatollah Mohammad Jawad Fazel Lankarani. This Department aimed to generate literature and conceptual frameworks for social jurisprudence through interviews with prominent scholars and jurists from the religious seminaries in Qom. Consequently, it embarked on organizing academic gatherings addressing various aspects of social jurisprudence.

Social jurisprudence constitutes a jurisprudential knowledge framework that examines social issues from a social perspective, aiming primarily at regulating matters within the social domain. It is evident that a subject matter, when viewed through the lens of social jurisprudence, may yield a different ruling compared to individual jurisprudential considerations.

Social jurisprudence encompasses various domains, the most significant of which include:

- Jurisprudence of society and culture.

- Jurisprudence of social relations.

- Jurisprudence of governance.

- Jurisprudence of resistance.

- Jurisprudence of the environment.

- Jurisprudence of recreation, happiness, and tourism.

- Jurisprudence of urban management, urban planning, and administration.

- Jurisprudence of art and media.

Within these domains, the Social Jurisprudence Department primarily emphasizes the jurisprudence of society and culture, along with the jurisprudence of social relations. Other subjects and domains mentioned are not specifically addressed within the Department's focus.

Dr. Mohammad Baqir Rabbani serves as the head of the Jurisprudence of Society and Culture Department at the Jurisprudence Center of Pure Imams (a), overseeing the Department's management for approximately a decade. The Jurisprudence of Society and Culture Department within the Jurisprudence Center of Pure Imams aims to expand discussions on social jurisprudence internationally, preparing to hold academic gatherings outside the country and execute international social jurisprudence projects.

The Publications of the Jurisprudence of Society and Culture Department

1. The first work in the field of social jurisprudence is the book entitled "Collection of Interviews in Social Jurisprudence" published in 2014 (1393 solar Hijri calendar) through the efforts of Mohammad Baqir Rabbani. This book features interviews with eminent scholars and jurists such as Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani, Ayatollah Qāʾinī, Ayatollah Araki, and several scholars from seminaries and universities on the subject of social jurisprudence. It discusses topics including the nature and types of social jurisprudence, reasons for the lack of development of social jurisprudence, and related themes.

2. The second work titled "Jurisprudence and Society" authored by Mohammad Baqir Rabbani and Mohammad Sadegh Rabbani, was printed and published in 1917 (1396) and reached its second edition in 1999 (1398). This valuable book, made available through commendable efforts, aims to elucidate and organize necessary subjects. It delves into discussions regarding the interaction between jurisprudence and society, the concept and methodology of social jurisprudence, its governing principles, introduction of major issues within it, the jurisprudential rules related to social jurisprudence, and the system-making thereof. This comprehensive research serves as a valuable contribution to researchers and educators within both the seminary and university settings.

3. The third work in the realm of social jurisprudence, titled "An Introduction to Social Jurisprudence" was published in 2021 (1400 solar Hijri calendar) through the efforts of Hujjat al-Islam wal Muslimīn Dr. Mohammad Baqir Rabbani, in collaboration with esteemed scholars.

Today, in order to challenge Western civilization and strive toward an Islamic civilization, there seems to be no solution other than creating a system in areas of social jurisprudence, such as cultural jurisprudence, social relations jurisprudence, urban management jurisprudence, urban planning and architecture, media and art jurisprudence, environmental jurisprudence, governance jurisprudence, etc. To achieve this goal, a social approach to jurisprudential discussions and the establishment of new branches seems imperative. Given the absence of an independent and cohesive work addressing social jurisprudence and its impact on society and social realms concerning jurisprudence, the compilation of a standalone book appeared necessary. As the production of literature in the field of social jurisprudence is considered an integral responsibility within academic and seminary circles, this book aims to expand discussions related to the essence of social jurisprudence, elucidating the components of jurisprudence with a social approach and examining the interaction between jurisprudence and society.

4. The fourth work in the field of social jurisprudence, titled "Foundational Jurisprudential Capacities in the Formulation and Development of Social Jurisprudence," was printed and published by the head of the Jurisprudence of Society and Culture Department, Hujjat al-Islam wal Muslimīn Dr. Mohammad Baqir Rabbani, in 2023 (1400 solar Hijri calendar).

This book, Foundational Jurisprudential Capacities in the Formulation and Development of Social Jurisprudence, is among the works designed to expand the concepts of social jurisprudence. It delves into the subject's classification and methodology, then proceeds to examine the relevant Quranic verses and traditions concerning social jurisprudence, as well as its jurisprudential rules. The book highlights jurisprudential and foundational capacities necessary for the development and formulation of social jurisprudence. It introduces concepts such as the taste of Sharīʿa, legal addresses (khiṭābāt qānūniyya), the validity of strong feelings (ẓan) in different issues, the vacant or empty zone (mintaqat al-firāgh), and consideration of the circumstance of issuance, etc.  However, it approaches these subjects from a secondary epistemic perspective and each of these topics holds the potential for doctoral dissertations and is relevant to the Level Four of religious seminary studies.

In conclusion, the Jurisprudence of Society and Culture Department at the Jurisprudence Center of Pure Imams (a) expresses readiness for the expansion of social jurisprudence concepts on the international stage.

The Department can be contacted via the email address: rabani418@yahoo.com .