Legal Justifications for Entrepreneurship from the Perspective of the Statutory Laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

Entrepreneurship, as one of the main pillars of economic and social development, has received particular attention in the Islamic economic system and in the jurisprudence of Imamiyyah (Shi’a jurisprudence). This study aims to analyze the legal and jurisprudential justifications for entrepreneurship from the standpoint of Imamiyyah jurisprudence and examines its foundations, requirements, and impacts on the economic and social system. The necessity of this research lies in the in-depth analysis of the impact of entrepreneurship on ensuring social welfare, alleviating poverty and deprivation, and fostering economic independence within the framework of religious values. The research method is descriptive–analytical, and through the use of jurisprudential sources, exegetical texts, and specialized legal literature, various dimensions of entrepreneurship from an Islamic perspective have been evaluated. In this regard, jurisprudential foundations such as the principles of permissibility and lawfulness (ibahah and hilliyyah), the encouragement of lawful business activity, the observance of labor rights, and social justice have been investigated. Furthermore, the social, economic, and ethical effects of entrepreneurship in achieving human prosperity have been analyzed. The findings of the study indicate that entrepreneurship in Imamiyyah jurisprudence is not only a means for economic profitability but also a strategy for realizing social justice and fulfilling the needs of society. Nevertheless, certain challenges—such as the failure to observe jurisprudential requirements in modern businesses and their potential conflict with Islamic values—necessitate reform in supervisory and cultural structures.