Ma`rifat Siyasi

Delineating an ideal society with the aim of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of society, critiquing and evaluating the performance of rulers, and improving and reforming society is essential. In this article, using a descriptive-analytical method, the ideal society or civilizational utopia of Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi is analyzed in three steps: defining primary and intermediary objectives; delineating fourfold human relations and interactions; and the indicators of the utopia. The most important indicators of the civilizational utopia from his perspective are: basing the utopia on divine vicegerency (istikhlāf) and trust; compliance with the divine legislative will; simultaneous attention to natural and innate needs; the existence of a right-oriented religious government; religious democracy centered on religious truths; material and spiritual elevation as the function of the state; societal convergence with ultimate goals; establishing comprehensive security in society; regulated freedom within the framework of ethics and sharia; regulating friendships and enmities based on divine pleasure; tolerance within the framework of divine laws; comprehensive and balanced growth; the fundamentality of spiritual interests for social cohesion; resistance against threats; social reform based on valid and comprehensive religious knowledge; belief in the Hereafter and seeking martyrdom; honoring and preserving divine symbols and values; social responsibility; deprivation alleviation and combating extravagance; and social spiritual freedom.