Ma`rifat Siyasi

Since its inception, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has been subject to aggression by global arrogance. Currently, this aggression has taken the form of a hybrid war, necessitating a corresponding form of hybrid jihad to counter it. One of the influential factors in this struggle is the enhancement of religious knowledge among the mujahideen. This study aims to analyze the functional roles of major religious epistemological foundations in hybrid jihad in the context of confronting the enemies’ hybrid warfare against the Islamic system. The main research question is: What are the functions of religious epistemology in hybrid jihad? This research employs a qualitative methodology through the analysis and interpretation of primary religious texts and the systematic extraction of the Supreme Leader’s statements as key sources. The findings indicate that the three pillars—knowledge of God, knowledge of the self, and knowledge of the world—serve as doctrinal foundations shaping the conceptual framework of hybrid jihad. An examination of the Supreme Leader’s discourses reveals that hybrid jihad operates at three levels: hard, semi-hard, and soft. The integration of these levels is essential for a simultaneous confrontation with all instruments of the enemy’s hybrid warfare. The research concludes that synthesizing epistemological principles with operational strategies not only enhances the effectiveness of hybrid jihad but also redefines key concepts such as victory, defeat, and resistance within the Islamic defense discourse.