An Integrated Model of Islamic–Iranian Moral Education with Emphasis on the Parables of the Holy Qur’an and Saʿdī’s Golestān

Abstract

This study aims to elucidate an integrated model of Islamic–Iranian moral education through a comparative analysis of moral parables in the Holy Qur’an and Saʿdī’s Golestān. The Holy Qur’an, as a divine source and spiritual guide for humankind, employs parables to clarify abstract concepts and convey moral teachings; whereas Golestān, as a literary and cultural work, uses human-centered anecdotes and parables to cultivate moral, social, and cultural virtues. The research methodology is descriptive–analytical and is based on content analysis of parables in the two aforementioned sources. The findings indicate that Qur’anic parables primarily emphasize spiritual education, self-purification, piety, justice, and honesty, while Saʿdī’s parables focus on the human and social dimensions of morality and the cultivation of individual behavioral traits. By integrating these two approaches, a comprehensive model of Islamic–Iranian moral education is proposed in which the divine and human dimensions of ethics are addressed concurrently, providing a viable foundation for moral education within Iran’s educational system. This model contributes to the enhancement of moral identity, the strengthening of social cohesion, and the promotion of behaviors grounded in justice, honesty, and compassion within society.