Assistant Professor, Department of Tafsir, Higher Education Center for Qur’an and Hadith, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran
Abstract
While Darwin proposed theories of biological evolution, earlier sociologists such as Spencer, Kant, and Morgan had already debated the concept of social evolution. Many failed to distinguish between biological and social evolution, whereas the Quran addresses both distinctly. Biological evolution is a natural process beyond human control, whereas social evolution hinges crucially on human will and choice. The Quran—primarily a book of guidance—offers a unique perspective on social change, centering on the paradigm of "righteous vs. corrupt leadership." This framework ties societal evolution to moral and practical human choices. Whereas sociologists focus on "what is" (ontological/phenomenal existence), the Quran raises deeper questions of "what ought to be" (normative ethics) and "why" (teleology). Employing a descriptive-analytical method, this study presents a novel theory of social evolution derived from Quranic verses, linking it to human moral development and divine trial (imtihan). The research highlights how the Quran resolves ambiguities in secular sociology by integrating existential, ethical, and agential dimensions.
Bashovi, M. Y. (2025). The Quranic Concept of Social Change: A Triadic Nexus of Ontology, Ethics, and Human Agency. New Horizons in Quranic Studies, 1(1), 192-221.
MLA
Bashovi, M. Y. . "The Quranic Concept of Social Change: A Triadic Nexus of Ontology, Ethics, and Human Agency", New Horizons in Quranic Studies, 1, 1, 2025, 192-221.
HARVARD
Bashovi, M. Y. (2025). 'The Quranic Concept of Social Change: A Triadic Nexus of Ontology, Ethics, and Human Agency', New Horizons in Quranic Studies, 1(1), pp. 192-221.
CHICAGO
M. Y. Bashovi, "The Quranic Concept of Social Change: A Triadic Nexus of Ontology, Ethics, and Human Agency," New Horizons in Quranic Studies, 1 1 (2025): 192-221,
VANCOUVER
Bashovi, M. Y. The Quranic Concept of Social Change: A Triadic Nexus of Ontology, Ethics, and Human Agency. New Horizons in Quranic Studies, 2025; 1(1): 192-221.