ISLAM AND SOCIAL STUDIES
Year:2024 | Volume:12 | Issue:1 (پیاپی 45)|Papers Count:7

The collective Arbaeen pilgrimage, as a social norm of the Arbaeen visit, which is itself a cognitive element and the underlying layer of pure Shia culture, has numerous social and civilizational functions that are beneficial and essential not only for the Shia community but also for the human society. However, it should not be overlooked that fundamentally significant and impactful events in human society are equally susceptible to harm and may face obstacles that threaten their influence; this is because those with excessive demands stand against phenomena that hinder their individual and group interests and attempt to obstruct and damage their effectiveness if possible. The collective Arbaeen pilgrimage, as a significant cultural-social phenomenon, is no exception. This research aims to examine this phenomenon with a pathological approach, relying on the observations of the author and other researchers from the Arbaeen community, and present the findings to cultural scholars and policymakers. Some of the mentioned damages may serve as warnings and future studies to sensitize pilgrims and cultural policymakers to protect this valuable Hussaini blessing according to their responsibilities. Additionally, based on events and behaviors observed within the Arbaeen community and its vicinity, using the participatory observation method and gathered data, it was found that this great ritual phenomenon faces or may face in the future, challenges such as superficial ritualism, cultural discord and fragmentation, time limitations, and lack of continuity.

Rites are a set of actions performed within a society for specific forms and purposes, claiming the influence of supernatural forces on people. Rites are divided into collective (at the societal level) and individual (at the personal level) categories. The Arbaeen pilgrimage belongs to the first category. The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate whether the Arbaeen pilgrimage can be defined as a rite of passage and as a form of resistance against the power of everyday life. This research initially uses a descriptive-analytical method, with data collected through document studies and note-taking tools, followed by participatory observation. As the results indicate, the Arbaeen pilgrimage aligns with Turner's evolved concept of liminality, with the components of this rite corresponding to the stages of the rite of passage. As expected, when analyzed into its rite’s components using Turner's rite of passage theory, this pilgrimage can be matched with the transition stages (separation, liminality, and incorporation). All elements of liminality, such as dynamism, homogeneity, equality and absence of rank, lack of ownership and property, silence, humility and modesty, and reference to mysterious powers, are observed in the communitas of pilgrims. Additionally, instances of communitas and liminality, as well as forms of transmitting the sacred, were also found in this pilgrimage. From the perspective of this research, the Arbaeen pilgrimage is an extraordinary display of disrupting the hierarchies and limitations and routines of everyday life, and an act of liberation from structural constraints and determinisms, reaching the pinnacle of human humanity and freedom.

One of the common phenomena in recent years in Iranian society, examined in this article, is the "Arbaeen Walking Rituals." The aim of the present study is to understand the ideas that pilgrims construct for themselves through these rituals. This qualitative research is based on Grounded Theory. The informants of this study were 49 pilgrims participating in these rituals from various cities across Iran. The main findings revealed that the causal conditions affecting the occurrence of the phenomenon of "Arbaeen Walking Rituals" include: desire for religion and expression of Shiite solidarity; contextual conditions: religious concerns and the attractiveness of the destination; intervening conditions: political factors and propagation; strategies of pilgrims: self-restraint and gaining trust; and outcomes: Iran's power display, religious reproduction, and the development of origin and destination, which are depicted in a paradigmatic model. The findings of this study led to the discovery of a theory entitled "Political Will as a Sufficient Condition."

Metaphors and myths have always been considered and explored as categories related to literary, linguistic, or semiotic knowledge, and less attention has been paid to the roles of these categories in shaping social issues or in visualizing operational strategies for problem-solving. The "Causal Layered Analysis" (CLA) model is one of the methods that, by emphasizing the role of metaphors and myths in the formation of social phenomena and issues, considers them as the deepest layers of causes interacting with higher causal layers (litany, social causes, discursive causes). This research, conducted based on Causal Layered Analysis, aims to elucidate the role of effective metaphors and myths in shaping the cognitive issues of religious preachers. In this study, through a library study and reflective thematic analysis method, two cognitive issues were extracted from the statements of the Supreme Leader of Iran as the main themes. Based on interviews with scholarly preachers from Islamic seminary and the author's personal findings, the causal layers were analyzed, identifying seven metaphorical factors and five symbolic (mythical) factors related to the cognitive issues of religious preachers. In addition to explaining these factors, the research also presents appropriate strategies corresponding to them.

Social tolerance, meaning endurance, resilience, broad-mindedness, patience, freedom of speech, expression of opinion, and consensus based on collective measures, forms the foundation for the emergence of an Islamic government and the continuation of religious governance. The primary objective of this research is to study the application of social tolerance strategies in Islamic-Iranian governance. The research methodology is quantitative meta-analysis (survey) using the CMA2 software and non-probability sampling method. From a statistical population of 46 documents from 2004 to 2023, after screening and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 35 documents (sample size) were selected while considering validity and reliability. The results indicate that political factors (awareness of civil rights, ethnocentrism, political culture, political participation); cultural factors (cultural intelligence, cultural capital, use of mass media, level of religiosity); psychological factors (moral individualism, hope for the future, relative deprivation, resilience); social factors (social cohesion, feeling of social discrimination, life satisfaction, social participation); and demographic factors (education level, income level, socio-economic status) influence social tolerance.

Given that we live in a society with social principles and rules, familiarity with social education models is essential for the proper education of individuals. Besides the role of families, a significant part of social education is manifested in schools through the curriculum. The purpose of this research is to design and validate a social education curriculum model for the second year of high school in Iran's education system. The qualitative approach of this research uses the phenomenological method, involving semi-structured interviews with 15 experts through purposive snowball sampling and theoretical saturation techniques. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while in the quantitative section, 286 second year of high school teachers in Tehran were randomly selected. Data collection was conducted using a researcher-developed questionnaire. The qualitative findings identified 82 basic themes and 10 organizing themes, including features such as goals (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor), content (selection and organization), teaching and learning methods (selection and methods), and evaluation (principles and methods). The quantitative analysis showed that the identified components adequately explain the characteristics of the social education curriculum elements and that these features are relatively satisfactory.

Marriage establishes one of the most fruitful relationships where spouses, through having a positive and harmonious relationship, can determine their mental health and tranquility. This study aims to explore the lived experiences that either positively or negatively impact the tranquility of married women who have been in their marriage for 1 to 5 years. The research employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis and the Atreide Sterling technique through semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling. The target group consisted of 13 married women aged 20 to 30 years from the city of Ahram in Bushehr, Iran. The MAXQDA2020 software was used for thematic analysis. Results from the textual data revealed that the overarching category of effective communication skills includes organizing factors such as attentive emotional relationships, supportive and accommodating relationships, value and moral alignment, and interactions in communication with children. Categories related to ineffective interactions and disturbances to women's tranquility include organizing themes such as conflicts with the spouse's family, excessive interactions with the spouse's friends, dysfunctional relationships and reactions, and economic problems. In line with the findings of this study, it can be concluded that training in effective interpersonal communication techniques and addressing cognitive needs can improve relationships, correct ineffective interactions, and reduce interpersonal conflicts among couples.