تحليل تطبيقي مفهوم و طريق نجات در حكمت‌هاي نهج‌البلاغه و دمه‌پده

A Comparative Analysis of the Concept an‎d Path of Salvation in the Wisdoms of Nahj al-Balāghah an‎d the Dhammapada

علوم قرآن و حديث

Soteriology is one of the central themes in religions, reflecting humanity’s enduring confrontation with suffering, impermanence, an‎d the hardships of life. Different religious traditions have, in their own unique ways, invited human beings toward salvation an‎d ultimate liberation. Examining this issue within the field of comparative religion is of particular significance, as it reveals how each spiritual an‎d philosophical system, grounded in its own foundations an‎d methods, guides human beings toward the ultimate goal, namely deliverance from all forms of suffering an‎d distress. The importance of such inquiry lies in the fact that comparative studies not only foster interreligious dialogue an‎d convergence but also broaden the horizons of believers an‎d enable them to recognize truth within a wider global context. In this regard, Nahj al-Balāghah, a collection of the sayings an‎d wisdoms of Imam ʿAlī, stan‎ds as a major source in the Islamic tradition, encompassing various dimensions of individual an‎d social perfection. Hence, it serves as an appropriate text for analyzing the concept an‎d path of salvation in Islam. Conversely, the Dhammapada, one of the most revered an‎d ancient Buddhist scriptures, occupies a central position among the followers of Buddhism an‎d contains a concise compilation of the Buddha’s fundamental teachings on liberation an‎d the attainment of ultimate peace. The selec‎tion of these two texts, due to their profound content an‎d deep influence within their respective religious communities, provides a meaningful basis for comparison an‎d illuminates both the shared an‎d distinctive features of their approaches to salvation. This research employs a qualitative methodology based on comparative analysis, emphasizing similarities an‎d differences among intellectual systems emerging from distinct religious an‎d cultural contexts. Data were gathered through textual study an‎d analysis of the primary sources an‎d categorized according to the conceptual framework of “the notion an‎d path of salvation.” Given the structural an‎d discursive disparities between the two texts, an asymmetric comparative approach was adopted, allowing for the conceptual analysis of each within its own semantic an‎d doctrinal context. In this process, each text was first examined independently, an‎d subsequently, the findings were synthesized an‎d eva‎luated comparatively with a focus on the key components of salvation. A comparative study of the wisdom of Nahj al-Balāghah an‎d the Dhammapada reveals that, despite their emergence in distinct religious an‎d cultural milieus, both emphasize personal responsibility an‎d self-cultivation, viewing salvation as contingent upon individual effort. In Nahj al-Balāghah, the path of salvation is delineated within a revelatory-theological framework grounded in faith in God, righteous action, an‎d belief in the afterlife, while the Dhammapada, with its human-centered orientation, identifies the renunciation of attachments an‎d the attainment of insight an‎d awareness as the path leading to Nibbāna, the ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth an‎d death. The findings demonstrate that Nahj al-Balāghah adopts a theistic-ethical an‎d gradualist approach, whereas the Dhammapada follows a psychological-epistemological path based on self-reliance an‎d meditative discipline. Despite these differences, both texts converge in emphasizing moral an‎d inner cultivation an‎d the overcoming of worldly attachments. This convergence provides a meaningful foundation for interreligious dialogue an‎d comparative reflection between the two traditions.

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