Function of Shariah according to Malekian and Fanaei Study and Analysis

In recent decades the status of religion in the great and complicated puzzle of post-renaissance man’s life has been very vague. After these years of struggle and competition between religion and other human phenomena, it has not left wholly the scene and its role and function has not been defined in a clear and indisputable way. One of the most important and controversial components of every religion is its Law and practical commands, and asking about its function is a live question in religious study which I discuss in this dissertation, focusing on rituals.

First, I study the background of the key terms and assumptions in Islamic context. Then I offer my question to two Iranian intellectuals, Mostafa Malekian and Abolghasem Fanaei. In the first step I’ve tried to find out their views on the function of divine Law through their published works. Then I’ve tried to resolve and make clear ambiguities and unspecified points of each theory.

Finally, I’ve compared two theories with each other and concluded that Malekian in his fifth stage of intellectual life does not confirm any unique and exclusive function for rituals, and according to Fanaei the rituals can elevate our moral character and help us to gain spiritual experiences.