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An Analysis of the Balance Between Individual and Social Worship in Islam, with Emphasis on the Prevention of Isolation and the
Promotion of Social Health
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Samaneh Sadat Sadidpour *    , Mansoureh Zarean |
| Department of Social Sciences and Popualation, Women’s Research Center, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran , s.sadidpour@alzahra.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (179 Views) |
Background and aim: Social isolation is recognized in social and psychological sciences as a risk factor for individual and social health. In Razavi thought (intellectual tradition associated with Imam Reza), there is a distinction between social isolation (avoidant withdrawal from society) and individual devotional practice (purposeful seclusion for self-purification and strengthening one's connection with God). This study aims to examine the position of social isolation in the Islamic lifestyle by analyzing the balance between individual devotional activity and active social presence, with a focus on the Qur'an and the conduct (sīrah) of Imam Reza (AS).
Materials and methods: The present study is a descriptive-analytical investigation that extracts qualitative data from authoritative hadith and historical sources, including ʿUyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā, Biḥār al-Anwār, and Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib, and analyzes them with reference to Qur'anic and hadith perspectives as well as findings from contemporary psychology.
Findings: Islam has presented a balanced model in which individual devotional practice occurs simultaneously with active participation in society. He rejected avoidant isolationism and the abandonment of social responsibility, and emphasized the strengthening of human bonds, social ethics, and active presence in society. This balance between spirituality and social interaction provides the capacity to reduce the negative consequences of social isolation and to promote collective responsibility.
Conclusion: A re-reading of the Qur'an and the conduct of the Imams demonstrates that religion can play an effective role in establishing a balance between spiritual and social life, as well as in addressing the challenges of contemporary social isolation. |
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| Keywords: Spiritual health, Social isolation, Resilience, Social capital |
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Full-Text [PDF 480 kb]
(49 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Review Article |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/12/15 | Accepted: 2026/10/4 | Published: 2026/10/17
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