The Alavid Governance Model: Based on Content Analysis of the Letter to Mālik Ashtar

In the contemporary world, governance is a multidimensional concept that goes beyond the traditional administration of states and encompasses decision‑making processes, accountability, social participation, and justice‑orientation. The transformation of theoretical approaches in the field of governance and the emergence of new managerial models has intensified the need to revisit authentic religious texts in order to extract the foundations of just governance. Accordingly, the present study aims to explain the fundamental principles and values of governance in Alavid thought through a content analysis of Letter ۵۳ of Nahj al‑Balāgha, the directive of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), to Mālik Ashtar Nakha‘ī. The research method is qualitative and quantitative content analysis with an interdisciplinary and text‑centered approach, focusing on the extraction of managerial, ethical, and theological concepts from the text of the letter. The findings indicate that the teachings of the Imam Ali (AS) in this letter can be explained in four main axes: "Core principles and values in governance, just and ethical management in dealing with the people, the role of God in supervising the conduct of rulers, attention to the military and defensive dimensions of governance." The content analysis of Letter ۵۳ of Nahj al-Balāgha reveals that Imam Ali (AS) designed the structure of a governance system founded upon piety and efficiency; a structure in which the selection of officials based on merit, the protection of people’s rights, and continuous accountability before God are regarded as central mechanisms.

کلیدواژه ها:

Imam Ali (AS) ، Nahj al-Balāgha ، Governance ، Ruler ، Content Analysis