Criticism of Western Humanities and the Model for the Production of Islamic Humanities in the Thought of Imam Khamenei

Conventional humanities, rooted in the materialistic worldview, humanism, and Western secularism, reduce human beings to merely material and worldly entities. By relying exclusively on positivistic and empirical methodologies, this paradigm entirely marginalizes authentic epistemological sources such as divine rationality and revelation. From the perspective of Imam Khamenei, the persistence of this imported approach within educational systems not only fails to comprehensively address the fundamental and transcendent needs of Islamic societies but also subtly and overtly promotes secularism, moral relativism, and individualism, thereby driving society toward profound identity, cultural, and social crises. Accordingly, the primary objective of this research is to elucidate his critical viewpoints regarding the ontological and epistemological foundations of Western humanities, as well as to present his strategic model for the transformation and production of Islamic humanities. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and a qualitative approach, this study deeply analyzes his speeches and statements. The findings indicate that, in his view, liberation from Western intellectual colonialism requires a courageous transition from blind imitation to “indigenous theorizing” and “comprehensive Ijtihad” (dynamic jurisprudence). This dynamic Ijtihad, which simultaneously utilizes all Islamic sources of knowledge—including the Quran, Sunnah, intellect, and human experience—paves the way for the realization of the modern Islamic civilization.