The Educational Effects of the Supplication of Makārim al-Akhlāq on the Perfection of the Human Soul in Al-Sahifa Al-Sajjadiyya”

Abstract

This study examines the educational and moral impacts of Imam Al-Sajjad’s “Supplication of Noble Morals” (Duʿā Makārem al-Akhlāq), demonstrating that supplication in Islamic thought is not merely a verbal devotional act but a comprehensive pedagogical system that aims to purify the soul and build the human personality on spiritual, moral, and social levels.

The research begins by highlighting the significance of supplication as a means of self-purification, inner balance, and strengthening moral willpower. It also outlines the Islamic concept of education, the development of the human soul, and the three Qur’anic stages of the self: the commanding self, the self-reproaching self, and the tranquil self.

üThe content analysis shows that the supplication follows a three-stage educational structure:

 . Removal of immoral traits (Takhliyah): including arrogance, envy, anger, and the love of praise—considered essential to begin inner reform.

ü. Cultivation of virtues (Taḥliyah): such as wisdom, honesty, chastity, contentment, and humility—virtues that form a balanced and ethically grounded character.

ü. Social moral behavior: including justice, kindness, controlling the tongue, honoring parents, and good neighborliness, indicating that spiritual refinement must manifest in society.

The study concludes that supplication serves as:

 • A tool for self-awareness and self-accountability.

 • A mechanism that transforms moral knowledge into practical behavior.

 • An effective means of achieving psychological balance and reducing anxiety.

 • A pathway toward attaining the level of the tranquil self.

The research ends with recommendations such as promoting an educational understanding of supplication, connecting the psychological dimensions of the Sahifa Al-Sajjadiya with modern studies, and applying Imam Al-Sajjad’s method in contemporary moral and behavioral training