Ma`rifat Farhangi Ejtemaei

era, tracing its trajectory from conceptual formation to methodological distinction. As a new paradigm in Islamic thought, Social Fiqh has been driven by political and social challenges to move away from an “individual-centric Fiqh”—a product of historical isolation—toward a systemic and structural perspective. The research findings indicate that this evolution can be traced through several historical stages: the foundational period during the Safavid era, which involved theorizing the presence of Fiqh in power; the transformative period marked by the Constitutional Revolution and the encounter with modernity; and the period of consolidation and development following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, with the introduction of the theory of “Governmental Fiqh” by Imam Khomeini (ra), who redefined Fiqh as a “theory for the administration of society.” This transformation has led to the emergence of distinct macro-approaches in the modern era, which include the “Fiqh of Social Issues,” the “Fiqh of Systems” (centered on the thought of Martyr Sadr), “Governmental Fiqh,” and “Civilizational Fiqh.” Each of these approaches serves as a response to a specific level of needs within Islamic society. However, Social Fiqh continues to face significant methodological challenges, such as the necessity of developing Usul al-Fiqh (the principles of jurisprudence) and the importance of precise subject-matter identification, as well as institutional challenges to its implementation. This article concludes that the transition to Social Fiqh is a strategic transformation aimed at demonstrating the efficacy of religion in the arena of system-building, and its future is contingent upon deepening interdisciplinary perspectives and advancing toward civilizational horizons.