From Instinctual Instrumentalization to Faith-Based Brotherhood: Conceptual Reconstruction of Friendship in Islamic Ethics

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Department of Moral Philosophy, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Qom University, Qom, Iran

10.22080/jepr.2026.31648.1332

Abstract

Abstract
Despite the fundamental importance of "friendship" in Islamic ethics, this category has frequently been reflected merely as fragmented behavioral recommendations rather than being analyzed from a systematic and theoretical perspective. Relying on a descriptive-analytical method, the present study revisits foundational Islamic texts across three major traditions—philosophical, mystical, and scriptural (Ma'thur)—to achieve a unified formulation of the nature of friendship. The research findings indicate that this concept can be elucidated within a coherent three-level theory: first, the "rational-virtuous" level, centered on self-purification and the elevation of character; second, the "spiritual-affective" level, which perceives friendship as a manifestation of divine love on the spiritual journey; and third, the "socio-religious" level, which emphasizes the consolidation of brotherhood and the cohesion of the moral community. Furthermore, by applying Allameh Tabatabai's theory of I'tibariyat (social constructs/conventionalities), the study demonstrates how the Islamic moral system elevates the human instinctual and utility-driven approach into a relationship based on mutual service and affection. This comprehensive framework, while elucidating the authentic position of friendship in Islamic thought, provides a methodological foundation for scholarly dialogue with contemporary Western approaches such as Virtue Ethics, the Ethics of Care, and Social Capital Theory.

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