The Social Principles of Imam Ali's Theory of Knowledge

Contrary to the three-Dimensional approach dominating current sociology, this paper shows that society has four dimensions (God, man, land and relation(, and referring to Imam Ali's speeches and using a “qualitative content analysis”, this study shows that each of these four dimensions of society influences man's way of thinking and mentality in a longitudinal manner in one way or another. God's influence which is certain extends to all other factors. Although concerning voluntary actions of man, such influence is exercised through human will, the role of God is present therein. In the next stage comes the human factor and it plays a leading role in this process longitudinally after the exalted God's part. In the third stage, supernaturalistic factors (angels and Satan) operate; and finally, in the fourth stage, the natural and social are involved.