Hawzah News Agency- Hojatoleslam Ashkan Sadegh Nejad, head of the national group “Devotees of Imam Reza (PBUH),” made the remarks in an interview in Tabriz, outlining what he described as the “Alawi doctrine of tranquility” rooted in the teachings of Imam Ali (PBUH).
Inner Mastery, Not Passivity
Sadegh Nejad argued that contemporary societies face mounting psychological pressures due to rapid cultural shifts, material competition, and economic volatility—conditions that have turned peace of mind into what he called “a rare alchemy for humanity.”
Citing a well-known saying attributed to Imam Ali (PBUH) — “There is no forbearance like patience and silence” — he stressed that tranquility in Islamic thought is not the result of withdrawal or passivity, but rather the outcome of disciplined self-mastery.
“In the Alawi school,” he said, “calmness is the fruit of control over one’s impulses. When emotions are managed wisely, external turbulence does not translate into internal collapse.”
Reframing the Material World
The cleric further pointed to Sermon 82 of Nahj al-Balagha, which characterizes the worldly life as transient, arguing that much of modern anxiety stems from excessive attachment to material possessions and fear of losing them.
He described the Islamic concept of “positive asceticism” as a corrective lens for contemporary stress. “The goal is not to abandon the world,” he said, “but to possess it without being possessed by it.”
According to Sadeghnejad, this worldview cultivates individuals who remain resilient in hardship and humble in times of prosperity—qualities he described as essential for sustainable civilizational strength.
Spiritual Connection as Source of Power
Highlighting Sermon 222 of Nahj al-Balagha — “Indeed, God has made remembrance a polish for the hearts” — Sadegh Nejad emphasized that remembrance (dhikr) is not a mere verbal ritual, but a transformative spiritual practice.
“A polished heart perceives reality as it truly is,” he stated. “Such clarity prevents misjudgment and emotional breakdown in the face of crises.”
He maintained that reconnecting individuals to their spiritual roots strengthens societies at large, providing “a moral infrastructure capable of withstanding the storms of modernity.”
From Text to Lived Experience
Concluding his remarks, Sadegh Nejad described his organization’s mission as translating the teachings of Nahj al-Balagha from scripture into lived social practice through a national initiative titled “On the Path to Tranquility.”
“Nahj al-Balagha is not merely a historical text,” he said. “It is a manual for life. Whoever becomes familiar with this ocean of wisdom will experience a dignity and composure reminiscent of Imam Ali (PBUH)—even amid the fiercest tempests.”
His comments come amid growing discourse in Iran on the role of classical Islamic teachings in addressing contemporary social and psychological challenges.
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