“Pleasure” from the Perspective of Jeremy Bentham and its Critique with an Emphasis on Quranic Verses

Pleasure serves as a motivator for human beings in both desirable and undesirable behaviors. The concept of pleasure has been discussed by various ethical schools, with some accepting hedonism, including utilitarianism. Utilitarianism was first introduced in the early 18th century by Jeremy Bentham (February 15, 1748 - June 6, 1832) and later adopted by John Stuart Mill (May 20, 1806 - May 8, 1873), along with many philosophers and thinkers who followed suit. In addition, the Quranic verses, which Muslims believe guarantee the happiness of individuals in this life and the hereafter, mention various aspects of pleasure related to topics such as social reforms, food and clothing, and the afterlife. The foundations of hedonism have had a significant impact on philosophers, thinkers, social laws, culture, and people's lifestyles. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze and examine Quranic verses related to pleasure, utilizing a descriptive-analytical and critically researched method of data collection in a library setting. In-text references were completed in both APA and MLA formats. Furthermore, the Persian translation of Naser Makarem Shirazi was utilized for translating Quranic verses.