Ketab-E-Qayyem

Ketab-E-Qayyem

The Role of the School of Samarra in the Evolution of Nahj al-Balagha Studies

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 PhD student in Nahj al-Balagha Sciences and Education, College of Theology, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran.
10.30512/kq.2026.23015.4114
Abstract
The tradition of commentary on Nahj al-Balagha has consistently mirrored the evolution of Shi'i thought in response to historical transformations. This research analyzes the critical period from the post-Safavid era to the threshold of the Constitutional Revolution, an era of relative stagnation when scholarly attention to Nahj al-Balagha declined and its application was largely reduced to a political manual of advice for rulers.

The article’s central focus is the pivotal role of the School of Samarra, under Mirza Mohammed Hassan Shirazi (d. 1312 AH), as the turning point that ended this stagnation and initiated a renaissance in the field. Using a historical-analytical method, the study first explains the unique pedagogical and methodological characteristics of the School of Samarra that fostered this transformation. It then traces this "renaissance discourse" across three domains within the works of its prominent disciples: textual revival (through commentary and teaching), theoretical application (in political jurisprudence), and practical activism (in social leadership).

The findings demonstrate that by redefining Nahj al-Balagha's application, the School of Samarra elevated it from a "manual of advice for rulers" to a "charter of action for nations." In doing so, it not only directly influenced the discourse of the Constitutional Revolution but also left a lasting legacy on Shi'i political jurisprudence and contemporary Islamic movements.
Keywords

Subjects



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 March 2026

  • Receive Date 16 November 2025
  • Revise Date 21 February 2026
  • Accept Date 22 March 2026