Course Overview
Course Title: Jurisprudence of International Relations
Instructor: Shaykh Mortaza Torabi
Schedule: Academic Year 2024/2025 | Wednesdays, 09:00 – 10:00
Location: Imam Sadiq Institute, Hosseiniyeh Hall, 11th Alley, Mohammad Amin Blvd., Qom, Iran.
Course Portal: https://doroos.feqhemoaser.com
About the Course
In the classical literature of International Relations (IR), the exclusion of religious factors from macro-theorization was long accepted as a foundational principle; however, given contemporary global shifts, a scholarly reassessment of this approach has become an academic necessity. This course, delivered during the 2024–2025 academic year, provides a scientific analysis of the feasibility of deriving IR theory directly from Islamic teachings, utilizing Quranic verses and narrations. The primary focus of this academic inquiry is to challenge the dominance of the “Westphalian paradigm” and to elucidate the capacity of religious knowledge to provide a novel, robust framework in the international arena. The necessity of this course arises from the critical observation that dominant global theories, such as Realism, are rooted in specific anthropological and often theological axioms—such as the inherent wickedness of man—despite their claims to secularity. Therefore, to establish an indigenous Islamic model for diplomacy and global relations, it is considered vital to derive a theory that is consistent with foundational belief systems rather than adopting external paradigms.
A meta-theoretical and anthropological analysis is employed as the primary methodology in this research. This approach involves analyzing the historical contingency of the Westphalian paradigm in contrast with principled Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh al-Jawahiri), followed by utilizing scriptural sources—the Quran and Hadith—to lay the groundwork for a distinct Islamic theory of international relations. The course rigorously scrutinizes the possibility and necessity of deriving theory from “religious teachings” (Ma’arif al-Din). The findings of this Dars al-Kharij session are categorized into several key arguments. First, the course offers a critique of Western foundations, arguing that the exclusion of religion from IR theory was a historical necessity specific to the West and is fundamentally irrelevant to the principles of Islamic jurisprudence. Second, it establishes a distinct anthropology; while theories like Realism are based on determinism and a negative view of human nature, this course emphasizes concepts such as “Human Dignity” (Karamah) and “The Middle Way” (Amr bayn al-Amrayn) as the anthropological pillars of Islam. Third, it posits that the theoretical framework for Islamic international relations must be redefined based on Quranic and Hadith-based descriptions of humanity and global peace. Furthermore, the course explores the conceptual frameworks of soft and hard power, analyzing their sources from both Western and Islamic perspectives, and examines the jurisprudential debates surrounding the production of nuclear weapons.
Instructor Profile: Shaykh Mortaza Torabi
Shaykh Mortaza Torabi is a distinguished jurist, researcher, and senior lecturer at the Qom Seminary. With over three decades of scholarly activity, he is recognized for his expertise in contemporary jurisprudence (al-masa’il al-mustahdatha), Islamic economics, and interfaith studies. Shaykh Torabi began his formal religious education in Najaf (1972–1976) before relocating to Qom to pursue advanced studies. He completed his advanced coursework under the mentorship of eminent Grand Ayatollahs, including Mirza Javad Tabrizi, Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Mohammad Taqi Bahjat, Wahid Khorasani, and Ja’far Sobhani. His professional career is distinguished by over twenty-five years of dedicated service as a senior lecturer of advanced Islamic jurisprudence, where he has instructed students at the highest levels of scholarly training, including Sutuh al-Aliya and Kharij. Beyond his pedagogical contributions, he has served for more than a decade as a prominent member of the Board of Istifta (Council of Jurisprudential Inquiry) under the supervision of Grand Ayatollah Sobhani. As a specialized researcher, he has focused his expertise on addressing complex modern legal challenges, particularly within the evolving fields of the digital economy and medical ethics.
Scholarly Publications
Shaykh Torabi’s scholarly corpus includes numerous books and articles focusing on emerging legal issues and comparative studies. His significant contributions to the field include Contemporary Jurisprudential Inquiries into Economics and International Relations (2014), which addresses the intersection of faith and global systems. He has also authored Jurisprudence of Digital Currency: Extraction and Transaction, providing legal guidance on modern finance, and Gender Reassignment: A Jurisprudential Analysis, which explores bioethical issues. Additionally, he is a co-author of The Encyclopedia of Jurisprudential and Fundamental Rules, a comprehensive reference work in Islamic law.
