The Dynamic Three Level Model of Spirituality Based Ethics

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Moral Education, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Thought, ‎University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.‎

Abstract

This article aims to present a systematic, dynamic, and applicable model that explains how ethics is actualized within the framework of Islamic spirituality. Employing qualitative content analysis of authentic Islamic sources—namely the Holy Qur’an, authoritative Hadith collections, and classical ethical works—eight key components were identified and extracted across three interrelated domains: 1- Existential‑Relational Components (Divine Love and Trust in God), 2- Heart‑Refining Components (Intention, Sincerity, and Contentment), and 3-Instrumental Self‑Monitoring Components (Mindfulness [Murāqaba], Striving Against the Self [Mujāhada al‑Nafs], and Self‑Accounting [Muḥāsabat al‑Nafs]). By synthesizing these elements, the Dynamic Three‑Level Model of Spirituality‑Based Ethics is proposed, in which the three levels—Foundational‑Relational, Operational Self‑Regulatory, and Developmental‑ Manifestational—interact within a positive feedback system,  conceptualized as a virtue cycle. The innovation of this model lies in articulating the dynamic interplay among these levels and highlighting the intermediate level as a self‑regulating operational system. Finally, the model’s analytical and applicational capacity is demonstrated in two key domains: moral education and the analysis of structural hypocrisy in digital environments, both elaborated with references to Islamic sources and contemporary studies. The findings indicate that this model can both diagnose the internal mechanisms underlying current moral crises and provide a conceptual framework for designing educational and cultural interventions grounded in the practical wisdom tradition of Islam.

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References

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Islam and Researches about Spirituality
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 7
December 2025
Pages 40-68

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 December 2025
  • Revise Date: 29 January 2026
  • Accept Date: 06 February 2026

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