Islam va Pazhuheshhaye Tarbiyati

Objective: The aim of this study was to design and validate a model of spiritual education based on the views of Ayatollah Saadatpur. Given the richness of his thoughts and the need for systematic frameworks in spiritual education, this research sought to extract and formulate a cohesive model. Method: This research was conducted with a qualitative approach, utilizing content analysis of Ayatollah Saadatpur’s works. Subsequently, using an inductive method, the identified concepts and categories were organized and structured into the elements of an educational model. The research process consisted of four stages: 1) systematic study and content analysis of the works, 2) extraction of key model elements, 3) design of the model structure and explanation of the relationships between elements, and 4) qualitative validation of the model through expert evaluations. Findings: The foundational principles of spiritual education were categorized into four levels: epistemological (such as the innate nature of recognizing God), ontological (such as the existence of the metaphysical world), theological (the necessity of adhering to the teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah, as well as receiving divine grace), and anthropological (including the inherent capability of humans to attain spiritual perfection). The goals of spiritual education were classified into two levels: intermediate goals (such as performing actions for the sake of God's pleasure and witnessing the unity of divine actions) and ultimate goals (true servitude to God). The principles identified included naturalism, gradualism, proximity to a mentor, moderation, and asceticism. Spiritual education methods such as meditation, self-accounting, prayer, fasting, and visiting sacred places were specified. Facilitating factors such as divine love, the influence of scholarly guides, and the month of Ramadan, along with obstacles like sin, the commanding self, and materialism, were identified in the process. In the final stage, the proposed model was evaluated using the Content Validity Index (CVI) with feedback from specialists. The results of the validation indicated that the components of the model had high content validity. Conclusion: This study successfully presented a coherent and valid model of spiritual education based on the thoughts of Ayatollah Saadatpur. This model can serve as a reliable framework in the field of education and can be applied in educational practices.