The Methodology of Designing a Human Progress Indicator on the Basis of Quranic Discourse

The indexes and indictor of development have a central role in the evaluation and improvement of the progress of countries. From a methodological view, the formulation of a cohesive indicator of progress and development requires passing through four stages: conceptualization, criteria extraction, indexes designing and integrating them. The present paper, which uses an analytical method, considers that adapting the Quranic perspective of progress and development will bring about a fundamental change in the formulation of progress criteria and indicators. According to the Quranic discourse, development of human societies means exaltation of the members of these societies and thus leading an (agreeable life) on a (godly land). This transcendent concept of human development which is called "human progress" can be recognized by noticing the (divine revelation) in the pathological study of civilizations and within the framework of such components as "moral capability", "intellectual capability", "physical – mental capability", and "income capability" of the nations. The synthetic indicators of human progress measure the achievement of these four capabilities within the mentioned framework. Each of these potentials can be measured by observing the religious emphases on each of them.