Motivation and Deterrence in Teleological Jurisprudence: An Applied Study of the Perspectives of Ezz ben abdalsalam  and Shatebi

Eslah Joo, Raoof; Zolfaghartalab, Mostafa

doi:10.22034/mfu.2026.145360.1664

Motivation and Deterrence in Teleological Jurisprudence: An Applied Study of the Perspectives of Ezz ben abdalsalam and Shatebi

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ PHD student at university of Tehran

² Associate Professor in the Department of Shafi‘i Jurisprudence, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran.Tehran.Iran

10.22034/mfu.2026.145360.1664

Abstract

The concepts of “motivation” (bā‘ith) and “deterrence” (zā‘ij) are among the fundamental elements in teleological jurisprudence, and their function extends beyond the level of moral exhortation to play an effective role in organizing human behavior and realizing the objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharī‘a). Using an applied and analytical approach based on a re-examination of the interpretations of Ezz abd alsalam and Shatebi, this study addresses these two concepts.
Izz ibn Abd al-Salam, within a socio-legal framework, classifies deterrence into three types: religious, natural, and governmental, and considers the efficiency of the legal obligation system to be the result of the synergy between internal motivations (bā‘ith) and external guarantees (zā‘ij).
In contrast, al-Shatibi, from a principled teleological perspective, emphasizes the connection between innate human inclinations and the objectives of the law. He interprets fear, hope, and love as manifestations of internal motivation and deterrence, and regards the gradual institutionalization of these forces in legislation and history as the mechanism shaping human obligations.
The findings of the study indicate that, despite differences in emphasis—social in the case of Izz ibn Abd al-Salam and internal-teleological in the case of al-Shatibi—both perspectives consider motivation and deterrence to be the driving and sustaining forces for the realization of the objectives of the law. Ultimately, they ensure not only the provision of benefits and the prevention of harms, but also the continuous effectiveness of the legal system.
In the field of interdisciplinary studies and comparative research, particularly in motivational psychology and teleological jurisprudence, the present findings create a platform for dialogue between teleological jurisprudence and contemporary studies on motivational mechanisms in ethics and public law.

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