University of Isfahan Comparative Theology 2008-9651 17 2 2026 05 22 Analyzing the Status of People in Shi'a Theology Based on the Principle of Rational Good and Bad (Husn wa Qubh Aqli) Analyzing the Status of People in Shi'a Theology Based on the Principle of Rational Good and Bad (Husn wa Qubh Aqli) 57 74 29898 10.22108/coth.2025.144725.1977 FA Mahdi Ameri Shahrabi PhD. Student of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Abbas Abbaszadeh Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran 0000-0001-9802-581X Qorbanali Karimzade Gharamaleki Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Journal Article 2025 03 18 This research aims to analyze the position of people within the Shi'a theological system by examining the principle of intellectual good and evil (ḥusn wa qubḥ ‘aqli) and its impact on the human-God relationship. This study, employing an analytical-descriptive approach, scrutinizes traditional theological texts and the opinions of Shi'a theologians. It demonstrates that while the topic of the people's status has been sporadically and less prominently addressed in Shi'a theological heritage, the principle of intellectual good and evil serves as a core axis, enabling a thorough re-examination and expansion of this subject. According to the findings, this principle, as widely held by theologians, emphasizes the autonomy of human intellect in discerning good from evil. It portrays humans as creatures with free will, who are responsible and possess inherent dignity within the Shi'a theological framework. This principle not only grounds the human-divine relationship on a rational and ethical basis but also systematically clarifies the people’s role in accepting prophecy and imamate. This perspective holds great potential for developing contemporary theological discourse in areas like moral philosophy, religious anthropology, and political theology. The rejection of racism and class systems is a direct outcome of this view, which also forms the very foundation of religious democracy. This principle can function as a new framework for reconstructing and advancing Shi'a theology in response to modern intellectual and philosophical challenges concerning the role of people and governance. By highlighting humanity's divine essence, it builds a crucial bridge between the Shi'a theological tradition and modern discussions in the fields of philosophy of religion and comparative theology. This research aims to analyze the position of people within the Shi'a theological system by examining the principle of intellectual good and evil (ḥusn wa qubḥ ‘aqli) and its impact on the human-God relationship. This study, employing an analytical-descriptive approach, scrutinizes traditional theological texts and the opinions of Shi'a theologians. It demonstrates that while the topic of the people's status has been sporadically and less prominently addressed in Shi'a theological heritage, the principle of intellectual good and evil serves as a core axis, enabling a thorough re-examination and expansion of this subject. According to the findings, this principle, as widely held by theologians, emphasizes the autonomy of human intellect in discerning good from evil. It portrays humans as creatures with free will, who are responsible and possess inherent dignity within the Shi'a theological framework. This principle not only grounds the human-divine relationship on a rational and ethical basis but also systematically clarifies the people’s role in accepting prophecy and imamate. This perspective holds great potential for developing contemporary theological discourse in areas like moral philosophy, religious anthropology, and political theology. The rejection of racism and class systems is a direct outcome of this view, which also forms the very foundation of religious democracy. This principle can function as a new framework for reconstructing and advancing Shi'a theology in response to modern intellectual and philosophical challenges concerning the role of people and governance. By highlighting humanity's divine essence, it builds a crucial bridge between the Shi'a theological tradition and modern discussions in the fields of philosophy of religion and comparative theology. https://coth.ui.ac.ir/article_29898_97a0d9147833f453109e3680a21c5a11.pdf