Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives: Education encompasses all aspects and domains of human life. Moral education has always been paid attention to as one of the most important, sensitive, and fundamental domains. Moral education is providing conditions and employing methods to foster, strengthen, and establish moral qualities, behaviors, and manners, while also correcting and eliminating immoral traits, behaviors, and manners in oneself or others (Banari, 2000, pp. 539-568). In simpler terms, moral education can be defined as providing the necessary conditions for shaping and nurturing the traits, dispositions, and behaviors of oneself and others towards attaining success and happiness. Factors such as heredity, environment, and will, are generally mentioned in the educational process. Thus, all programs are planned based on these factors in the settings of education. In the perspective of Divine and Islamic schools of thought and religious literature, including verses, narrations, and the Islamic thinkers' words based on faith in Allah and belief in Divine Lordship, the role of non-material or metaphysical factors such as Divine success is emphasized. All religious scholars have attributed their success to Divine success in attaining high knowledge levels and morality. Therefore, this study, while reviewing topics such as the reality of Divine success, its relationship with the stages of creation and other Divine names, human will and effort, and factors attracting Divine success, addresses the central question: What is the relationship between belief in Divine success, defined as the belief that Allah, the Almighty, organizes and coordinates the means to achieve a desired outcome and moral education? Or, how does belief in Divine success impact moral education?
Method: This study, with an intra-religious approach and using library and documentary sources, describes and analyzes the role of Divine success in moral education.
Results: One of the Divine names is 'Muwaffiq', the coordinator and harmonizer of causes and conditions to achieve an objective. This name plays a role in all stages and levels of existence, from Divine will to creation and achieving results. This study shows that in the human realm, Divine success harmonizes between Divine creative Lordship and legislative Lordship, and among all causes, the will of humans is considered one of the causes of a longitudinal relationship with Divine will. Since, based on the principle of Divine action, the management of the world and all affairs is conducted with Divine permission, it is necessary for the path of self-improvement and the struggle against the self to realize that one cannot traverse the stages of happiness and perfection solely by relying on one's knowledge, awareness, and efforts. Thus, one must rely on only Divine aid and believe that without Divine success and grace, he cannot overcome the self and its desires (Mesbah Yazdi, 2004, p. 268).
The studies show that belief in Divine success creates motivation and will to strive; brings peace and tolerance for difficulties; distances one from despair; fosters humility and deters pride and selfishness; instills a sense of dependency on Allah and a spirit of vigilance concerning the factors and obstacles to obtaining Divine success. In addition to enhancing individual morality, this vigilance positively affects social relationships and morality with o thers. The structure of narrations related to Divine success also revealed that, in some narrations, Divine success is introduced as a factor that elevates and distances one from worldly attachments, sin, and performing obligatory acts. In other narrations, achieving happiness and ultimate success, as the goal of moral education, is attributed to Divine success, and the infallibles have accompanied the acceptance of their prayers with Divine success. It was also noted that the Holy Qur'an attributes many moral values, such as patience, perseverance, seeking assistance, maintaining lawful wealth, repentance and forgiveness, being receptive to advice, respecting parents, and having good company, to Divine success, grace, and guidance.
Discussion and Conclusion: In religious literature, Divine success is introduced as an important and fundamental topic; believers are advised not to forget Divine success and always seek and request it from Allah, the Almighty, in their affairs. Therefore, educators, trainers, and those responsible should pay attention to Divine success and acquaint their trainees with the factors of obtaining and the obstacles to achieving Divine success, and educational resources should also allocate lessons to this topic.
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