Note: The three-volume work Fiqh of International Relations represents one of the earliest systematic efforts to establish the emerging field of “Fiqh of International Relations.” The author, Dr. Seyyed Mahdi Sadati-Nejad, has focused extensively on this subject and, in addition to this collection, has produced other books and articles on the fiqh of international relations. A brief overview of the contents of this three-volume set follows.

The three-volume collection Fiqh of International Relations, authored by Mohammad Mahdi Sadati-Nejad, analyzes and examines international relations from a jurisprudential perspective. Drawing on jurisprudential principles and rules, the author addresses major issues such as human rights, war and peace, international cooperation, and the legal concerns of nations.

The importance of this work stems from its engagement with jurisprudential matters at the international level, its particular illumination of the relationship between Islamic fiqh and international law, and its exploration of topics including ethical principles in international relations, difficulties in applying fiqh globally, and challenges posed by differing legal systems among countries. The book aims to illustrate how jurisprudential principles can be implemented in regulating international relations and resolving challenges that arise in global interactions. It also seeks to demonstrate that Islamic fiqh can offer practical solutions to complex international problems.

Volume One

The first volume plays a foundational role in establishing and explaining the theoretical frameworks and jurisprudential foundations necessary for understanding and analyzing international relations. Due to its emphasis on the history of the fiqh of international relations and its examination of the evolution of perspectives across various Iranian historical periods, this volume serves as a comprehensive and solid introduction to the rest of the work. It comprises five chapters, each addressing a historical or theoretical aspect of the fiqh of international relations. The volume begins by explaining key concepts in international relations, then analyzes various historical viewpoints from the pre-Constitutional era to the Islamic Revolution, and finally traces the development and maturation of jurisprudential foundations.

Chapter One: General Principles and Concepts

This chapter elucidates the foundational concepts of international relations. It first provides definitions of state, sovereignty, nation, and international relations, then emphasizes the importance of correctly understanding these concepts for grasping jurisprudential principles in international policy. The chapter serves as an introduction to contextualize the jurisprudential and historical understanding of international relations.

Chapter Two: Thought on International Relations in the Pre-Constitutional Period

This chapter examines jurisprudential and political approaches to international relations before the Constitutional era. Topics discussed include:

• Emphasis on absolute sovereignty and the role of fiqh in regulating foreign relations during that period;
• Perspectives on passive policies, preservation of independence, and national dignity in confronting foreign powers;
• Challenges posed by imperialist powers and their impact on introducing new concepts to traditional fiqh.

Chapter Three: Jurisprudential Foundations and Principles of International Relations in the Constitutional Period

This chapter explores significant intellectual shifts during the Constitutional era. Topics include:

• The influence of the Constitutional Movement and the introduction of the concepts of constitutional law and Western international law;
• Examination of the evolution of jurisprudential principles from the perspectives of justice, sovereignty, and international relations within the framework of modernity;
• The integration of traditional Islamic teachings with modern knowledge of international relations.

Chapter Four: Jurisprudential Foundations and Principles of International Relations in the Era of the Islamic Revolution

This chapter discusses fundamental transformations following the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Topics include:

• Revolutionary discourse and the reinterpretation of jurisprudential principles to address new global needs;
• Emphasis on concepts such as justice, freedom, rejection of domination, and support for oppressed nations in foreign policy;
• Active and ethically oriented interaction with other countries based on Islamic teachings.

Chapter Five: Examination of the Historical Evolution of the Foundations and Principles of the Fiqh of International Relations

This chapter analyzes and synthesizes the historical trajectory of the jurisprudential foundations of international relations. Topics include:

• Review of different periods from the pre-Constitutional era to the Islamic Revolution and comprehension of intellectual and jurisprudential developments;
• Emphasis on the role of ijtihād and continual reinterpretation of fiqh to adapt to new global conditions;
• Demonstration of the necessity for ongoing research and updating of jurisprudential knowledge in the field of international relations.

Volume Two

The second volume consists of five chapters, each examining specific aspects of the theory of the fiqh of international relations within the framework of concepts such as Dār al-Islām, Dār al-Kufr, and other jurisprudential divisions. A concise description of each chapter follows. The author analyzes the criteria and spatial-jurisprudential divisions in the international system and maps the world from the perspective of Shiʿi fiqh. The primary goal of this volume is to articulate jurisprudential frameworks for a more precise understanding of Islamic and non-Islamic domains and to analyze relations among nations.

Chapter One: Examination of Jurisprudential Criteria for Determining Dār al-Islām and Dār al-Kufr in the International System

This chapter elucidates and evaluates the jurisprudential criteria used to classify geographical and political regions as Dār al-Islām or Dār al-Kufr. These criteria include accepted sharʿī rulings, the nature of governance and implementation of Islamic laws, as well as political and cultural relations with the Islamic community. The author extracts precise and well-substantiated indicators from jurisprudential texts for this classification and examines their impact on the political and legal relations of countries.

Chapter Two: Mapping the World According to the Jurisprudential View of Dār al-Islām and Dār al-Kufr

Based on the criteria outlined in the previous chapter, this chapter presents a map of the world indicating which regions and countries are recognized as Dār al-Islām or Dār al-Kufr. The author describes the geographical status, political and economic differences among regions, mechanisms of interaction between these two domains, and the challenges arising from such divisions.

Chapter Three: Types of Countries in the Contemporary International System According to Various “Dār” Categories in Shiʿi International Relations Thought

This chapter details a more diverse classification of countries that extends beyond Dār al-Islām and Dār al-Kufr, introducing new categories such as Dār al-Ḥarb and Dār al-Ṣulḥ. The author analyzes these categories, explaining the characteristics, rights, and obligations of each type of country from a jurisprudential perspective and clarifying reciprocal interactions and relevant policies.

Chapter Four: Mapping the World from the Perspective of Various “Dār” Categories in Shiʿi Fiqh of International Relations

This chapter offers a more complex and comprehensive world map that includes, in addition to Dār al-Islām and Dār al-Kufr, other categories such as Dār al-Imārah and Dār al-Dhimmah. The effects of these classifications on international policies, the rights of nations, and the nature of their interactions are analyzed in detail. The author demonstrates how this jurisprudential perspective can provide a novel framework for understanding global politics and interstate relations.

Volume Three

The third volume comprises five chapters that address important and contemporary topics in theoretical foundations, security, infiltration, and international challenges from a Shiʿi jurisprudential viewpoint. A brief introduction and explanation of each chapter follows. This volume elucidates and analyzes the jurisprudential and philosophical foundations of international relations, discussing theories of human peace, challenges posed by Takfīrī currents, global security, and the issue of infiltration, thereby presenting new dimensions of the fiqh of international relations. As a complement to the previous two volumes, it engages with current issues facing the Islamic world and contemporary politics.

Chapter One: Jurisprudential Foundations and Principles of the Theory of Human Peace in International Relations, Based on the Philosophical-Jurisprudential Perspective of Imam Khomeini (may Allah have mercy upon him)

Through a profound analysis of the concept of peace grounded in the philosophical and jurisprudential foundations of Imam Khomeini—emphasizing the necessity of realizing justice, respecting human dignity, and preventing unjust wars in international relations—the author shows how Imam Khomeini’s viewpoint can offer an ethical framework for global policy.

Chapter Two: Takfīrī Currents and the Misuse of Jihad in the Fiqh of International Relations

This chapter examines Takfīrī currents and critiques their misuse of the concept of jihad for violent purposes, analyzing their effects on the security of Islamic regions and international relations. It also stresses the necessity of a correct and ijtihād-based reinterpretation of the fiqh of jihad to prevent distortions.

Chapter Three: Foundations and Principles of Security in the International System According to the Jurisprudential Perspective of Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him)

While explaining security as a key element of international relations, the author examines Ayatollah Khamenei’s jurisprudential and political views on security, preserving independence, and countering external threats. Throughout the discussion, the importance of sustainable security based on justice and ethical principles in international policies is also highlighted.

Chapter Four: Infiltration in Shiʿi Fiqh of International Relations: A Comparative Study of the Views of Jurists in the Pre-Constitutional, Constitutional, and Islamic Revolution Periods

This chapter investigates the concept of infiltration and its impact on foreign policy from the perspective of jurists across three historical periods. By analyzing differences in jurisprudential views and strategies for countering infiltration in each era, it seeks to illustrate the evolution of jurisprudential attitudes toward infiltration throughout history.

Chapter Five: Infiltration and Methods of Countering It According to Imam Khamenei (may Allah preserve him)

Describing Imam Khamenei’s strategies and practical solutions for confronting colonial and foreign infiltration—emphasizing the importance of resistance, preserving independence, and enhancing jurisprudential-political diplomacy for effective response—the author presents actionable approaches to addressing infiltration threats in the international arena.