An Explanation of the Concept and Indexes of Velayee Function in Imam Musa Sadr's Experience of Community Formation

Imam Musa Sadr was after reviving the social aspect of faith, an objective he sought in the latter’s social function. Emphasizing the actualization of Islam’s community-making endeavor with Velayee content, he intended to implement such a model of Islamic social structure that would come into existence through social links. Community formation is one of the social organizing approaches that have mostly been taken into consideration subsequent to the expansion of the crises pertaining to modernism, namely individualism, distrustfulness, participation, identity, etc. Community is a social and communicative structure which by focusing on the rational level of the society provides the circumstances for realizing Velayee function contributing to interactive and objective-based atmosphere, leading to the improvement of social identity and sense of belonging. Communities are mostly life-based and are formed in response to the basic needs of life. The article, by using a data-based method and interviewing experts, examines the concept and indexes of Velayee function as experienced by Imam Musa Sadr. Finally, the five-fold indexes of Velayee function including leadership and guardianship of society, invitation and social orientation, cooperation and sense of belonging, social progress and growth, and understanding are explained and distinctions between Velayee function and rational and communicative functions are clarified.