Quranic View of Humanity Holds Key to True Security: Lecturer
Seyyed Sajjad Ale-Seyyed Ghafour, a faculty member at the Research Institute for Islamic Sciences and Culture, made the remarks during a recent academic session on “The Scientific Authority of the Quran and the Paradigm of Holistic Security.”
He said that in modern times, security studies have been dominated by secular theories based on realism and liberalism, both of which rest on flawed understandings of human nature.
“In these views, man is either inherently evil or a rational, utilitarian being seeking maximum profit,” Ale-Seyyed Ghafour said. “Proxy wars and economic inequality show that such material models fail, because they cannot grasp the true roots of insecurity.”
Ale-Seyyed Ghafour explained that, from a Quranic perspective, “security is based on the monotheistic nature of man.” He summarized the Quran’s response to the question “What is man?” in five key principles.
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“First, man’s God-centered nature and desire for justice mean that lasting security depends on reviving this innate faith. Second, human beings are pulled between instincts, reason, and morality; many threats arise when the animal and selfish dimensions dominate the spiritual one,” he said.
He added that human dignity and inalienable rights are central to the Quranic concept of security, which aims to create conditions that preserve this dignity. “Man is God’s vicegerent on earth, responsible for its prosperity,” he said, noting that “the world is a place of testing, and insecurity often reflects the human choice between truth and falsehood.”
According to Ale-Seyyed Ghafour, real security is not just the absence of physical threats. “True security means peace, stability, and empowerment to fulfill one’s divine mission. It is a divine blessing that enables worship and the flourishing of the earth,” he said.
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He described multiple layers of Quranic security: “the faithful individual, the family as the center of affection, the Islamic ummah blessed by divine grace, and a just political order where security serves justice.”
Ale-Seyyed Ghafour outlined the Quran’s comprehensive model for security, emphasizing purification of the self as its foundation. “External security without internal piety is impossible. Justice and accountability are the pillars of security,” he said.
Other key elements include unity under the rope of Allah, enjoining good and forbidding evil as a form of public oversight, and legitimate defense within the limits of justice.
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