Analysis of Human Relations in Surah al-Anfal based on theTheory of Istikhlaf

The Qur'an has spoken about binding laws, which are expressed as "Sunan"(traditions), which are called "Social Sunans" in the social sciences.According to the social view of the Shahid al-Sadr, society is composed ofthree elements: nature, man and the relationship between them, and thisrelationship is what is expressed as istikhlaf (Representation of God) basedon the Quranic principles of the Shahid al-Sadr. The problem of this researchlies in understanding the type of human relationship with other human beingsbased on the theory of istikhlaf in the relevant verses in Surah al-Anfal,based on a descriptive-analytical method and with the aim of determining themodel of human communication and relations in human society based on thetheory of istikhlaf. According to the verses of Surah al-Anfal, this problem canbe divided into the communication at the micro level (family system) as wellas the communication at macro level.The results of the research indicate the type of communication with the childand the reconciliation of the relationship among people, as the best examplesof the family communication at the micro level; also, giving charity topeople, reconciling hearts, and creating peace, as the best examples of thecommunication at the macro level. Man's relationship with other human beingsat the micro level or intra-family relationships as the smallest social unit,should be based on the fact that a man's child and wife may be a meansof testing him, and the relationship of a man with them should be based onistikhlaf (the merit of the wife and the child to accept the position of divinecaliphate) in actual form. Helping others and giving them charity, reconcilinghearts and creating peace are among the things that increase the level ofsocial solidarity of human communication with other people on a macro level.All these relations must be based on the theory of istikhlaf and on the basisof creating love for all human beings in order to prepare them to attain thepurpose of creation, which is to achieve the position of caliphate and representationof God Almighty on earth.