A Social and Political Analysis of the Problems Confronting the Realization of the Lifestyle of the Household of the Prophet( a)

This article examines and analyzes the reasons why the lifestyle of the Household of the Prophet(‘a) has not been put into practice in Iran. Meanwhile, the political and social backgrounds of this situation are also considered. The necessity of this study is the prevalence of the mentioned situation in Iran despite strong belief in the principles the lifestyle of the Household of the Prophet(‘a). The effects of a tyrannical government on the lifestyle of the people in conflict with the lifestyle which the Household of the Prophet(‘a) propagated have been examined in this paper. These divergences in the private sector include: boredom, stagnation, following others in society, aggression and violence. In the area of mind-set these ill effects include: a simplistic outlook, fatalism, and Sufism. The ill effects on people’s inclinations include: a lack of love and friendship, hopelessness, humiliation, and feelings of inferiority. The social and cultural ill effects include: the society becoming oriented towards individual self-interest, a lack of goals and social objectives, a growth of criminal offenses, a lack of social responsibility, and hypocrisy. The ill effects on economics include: financial corruption and laxity at work. As a result, it is clear that some principles of the lifestyle of the Household of the Prophet(‘a) are in contrast with the effects of a tyrannical system of government in the private, political, social, and cultural sectors. Studies have shown that this type of government prevents putting into practice the lifestyle of the Household of the Prophet(‘a). Even if people are aware of the various aspects of this lifestyle, the social political environment prevents this lifestyle from being implemented. It seems the autocratic rule which previously existed in Iran caused the people to choose more of an individualistic lifestyle rather than the lifestyle of the Household of the Prophet(‘a) which is a social and collective model. This has caused most people to be in pursuit of fulfilling their own personal, private needs and interests. An unconcern for the law and a lack of social consciousness are outgrowths of this lifestyle. Of course many examples of a collectivist way of living exist in Iran such as: generosity and purity, leaving an endowment and charitable deeds, social movements, cooperation in rural areas, traditional communication networks, and patriotic poems and songs which show an awareness of a common destiny, nationality, and identity. Therefore, the mentality of an individualistic way of thinking cannot be generalized for all periods of time and all Iranians. And, since this mentality is not inherent in Iranians, attention should be mostly focused on the appearance of this psyche in the political and social fields.