The Islamic Ummah and Social Capital: A Quranic Analysis of Believers’ Relationships and Capital Formation in Early Islam
Document Type : مقاله پژوهشی
Author
Department of Theology, Faculty of Law and Theology, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
10.22084/qss.2025.31076.1142
Abstract
This interdisciplinary study investigates the mechanisms of social-capital formation in the early Islamic community. The data comprise selected Qurʾānic verses (Ḥujurāt 10; Tauba 103; Māʾida 2; Anfāl 63; Āl ʿImrān 103), authoritative tafsīr sources, and historical references such as Ibn Hishām’s Sīra. The research employs thematic qualitative content analysis: verses and interpretations were coded, producing three central categories — Islamic brotherhood, social institutions, and reciprocal norms — and these were compared with social-capital theory (trust, networks, norms). Findings indicate that Qurʾānic brotherhood fostered trust and bonding social capital; institutions such as the mosque and zakāt system promoted cooperative networks and bridging capital; and Qurʾānic injunctions like enjoining good and mutual aid institutionalized reciprocal norms. The study concludes that Qurʾānic principles, through practical and historical functions, offered mechanisms for strengthening trust, enhancing cooperation, and reducing inequality. These insights provide applicable lessons for modern social-integration policies, institutional development, and community cohesion. The comparative analysis of verses, tafsīr, and historical practices forms the foundation of the article’s practical recommendations.
Keywords
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Volume 4, Issue 1
September 2025Pages 212-241
- Receive Date: 01 June 2025
- Revise Date: 07 September 2025
- Accept Date: 18 October 2025