Strategic Self-Control Principles in Nahj al-Balaghah (Case Study: Letter 53)

"Self-control" can be considered as a fundamental strategy for the material and spiritual progress of society. "Self-control" is very effective in the process of reforming various social abnormalities and realizing social adjustment among managers and people. Today, the emergence of social problems has doubled the necessity of improving the ethics of managers, which is in line with religious values. The present research seeks to answer the following question: Is it possible to explain the different dimensions of self-control in management ethics through the letter of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) to Malek Ashtar?

In this descriptive and analytical study, the teachings of this letter about the ethics of managers focusing on the topic of "self-control" have been investigated. First, the concept of self-control and its dimensions in psychology is explained. After presenting the outlook of this letter, the most important aspects of the management's self-control are extracted from the letter.

Findings and results:

Through the examination of the propositions of this letter, it follows that "self-control" in both personal and social dimensions illustrates the managerial ethos. Piety, justice, honesty, tolerance, righteousness, and generosity are of the most frequent strategic principles of self-control in management, in which Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) refers to Malik Ashtar in this letter.