Moral Self-Regulation and Its Role in Guiding Prosocial Conduct: A Textual Analysis of al-Shāṭibiyyah

Abstract

This study examines al-Shāṭibī's contribution to the moral and social reform of individuals and society through the values and principles embedded in his didactic poem al-Shāṭibiyyah. It also explores how these values apply to human conduct in contemporary social contexts. The study employs inductive and descriptive approaches to identify the values reflected in the poem and analyze their role in promoting individual and societal reform. The findings indicate that societal reform begins with individual reform, while society provides the nurturing environment in which individuals develop. Individual and societal reform are therefore mutually interdependent and complementary.

The study further demonstrates that al-Shāṭibī incorporated a range of values and principles into his poem that extend beyond the technical and linguistic dimensions of Qur'anic readings. These values also carry broader ethical and social implications that can contribute to the moral development of individuals and the reform of society. Accordingly, al-Shāṭibiyyah can be examined not only as a foundational work in Qur'anic readings but also as a text with ethical and social dimensions worthy of further scholarly investigation. Scope of the Study: This study adopts inductive and descriptive approaches to examine al-Shāṭibiyyah, al-Shāṭibī's didactic poem on the seven canonical Qur'anic readings, with particular attention to its moral and social values.

Scholarly Contribution: The study highlights the ethical and social dimensions of al-Shaṭibī's work, drawing attention to its potential contribution to individual and societal reform beyond its established role in the study of Qur'anic readings.