An Explanation of the Social Capital Elements Based on Islamic Narrations Pertaining to the Mutual Relations

Social capital as a major concept has been focused by social scientists. It can be studied also in the field of religious teachings. Islamic narrations pertaining to mutual relations among people provide a ground for studying social capital elements, which have been dealt with in this article. The aforementioned narrations, having a qualitative approach and using content analysis method, have been categorized in order to explain relational, cognitive, and structural elements. Relational elements provide the ground for mental link, i.e., inclination toward social cooperation. The continuation of its production line depends on the actualization of the element of confidence. It can promote individual link from mental, abstract level to concrete level, which has been discussed in cognitive elements as a trust making principle. The concrete level of relations manifests itself in “brotherhood” organization, which has been considered as the ground for the production of social capital. Accordingly, the conceptual structure of social capital is formed the exercise of which can strengthen social system and promote its growth.