An Explanation of the Constituents of an Imam Ali Oriented Lifestyle and Their Educational Uses

The present study is aimed at explaining the constituents of a lifestyle predicated on Imam Ali (PBUH)’s teachings, and their uses in education. It is a qualitative research on the basis of the grounded theory, and done through the method of inductive coding. The subject of analysis includes all the letters, speeches, and wisdoms in Nahj al-Balagha translated by Mohammad Dashti as well as prayers transmitted from Imam Ali (PBUH). The data were collected purposefully and in accordance with the theoretical saturation rule. In this study, six educational domains were extracted from the teachings of Imam Ali (PBUH). Constituents of each domain were explained, and their educational uses for setting goals, learning-teaching methods, educational content, and assessment were examined. The goals were categorized into “ultimate” (obedience and submission towards God) and “mediatory” (constituents obtained from open coding). Teaching-learning methods such as finding role models, affection, habituation through practice and repetition, counsel, and encouragement and punishment can be proposed based upon the constituents extracted from Imam Ali’s lifestyle. In the assessment, the principle of attention to individual differences has been emphasized. Educational content too can be codified and presented on the basis of the main constituents of Imam Ali oriented lifestyle and through a comprehensive and multifaceted look at human beings.