Social Justice as Viewed byAyatullah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Sadr

Justice, as viewed by Ayatullah Sadr, is of an inherent value and needed for realization of other values in a society. It is desired by man through his fitrah (fundamental nature). It is not subject to constitution and does not belong to certain historical and social conditions as well. In his view, the concept of equality has been negated by the quiddity of justice. He regards labor as a criterion for different fair enjoyments. Social justice is mainly concerned with the level of human relations in distribution of sources and interests while there is a conflict of interest between the strong and the weak. A conflict which, while looking deeply into it, refers us to a fundamental paradox viz. the inner quarrel between man's divine and material aspects. It will continue and not stop till the divine aspects are triumphant. To him, Islamic type of social justice consists of two general principles: general support and social balance. He also presents strategies for each of them. He holds that Islam establishes agreement between collective and individual fitri criteria and maintains social welfare and justice in two ways: 1- an exact and true interpretation of life and its development (cognitive factors); 2- moral education of man (motivational factors).