Analysis of the Principle of Self-Sufficiency in the Arena of Economic Authority, Based on the Qurʾānic Thought of Martyr Grand Ayatollah Khamenei

Economics, as one of the most important pillars of national authority and the political-cultural independence of societies, has always been at the center of attention in Islamic thought. In the intellectual paradigm of Islam, economics is not merely a material and technical arena, but rather a strategic domain for the realization of justice, the preservation of human dignity, and the safeguarding of the independence of the Islamic nation (Ummah). One of the key concepts in this paradigm is the "principle of self-sufficiency"; a principle that has a deep root in Qurʾānic teachings and has been continuously emphasized in the political-economic thought of Martyr Grand Ayatollah Khamenei as one of the main pillars of the economic authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nonetheless, despite the repeated proposition of the concept of self-sufficiency in the statements and macro-policies of the system, superficial, reductionist, or merely sloganeering interpretations of this principle still exist, which have impeded a precise understanding of its position within the model of Islamic and resistance economics. The main problem of the current research is what the nature of the "principle of self-sufficiency" is in the Qurʾānic thought and the leadership of the Islamic Revolution, and how it can be elucidated as a fundamental component in the formation of economic authority? In other words, the present research seeks to answer the question of whether self-sufficiency merely means domestic production and the reduction of imports, or if it possesses a deeper, multidimensional, and civilizational concept intertwined with the independence, dignity (ʿIzzah), resistance, and sustainable progress of the Islamic society? Furthermore, the question arises as to how the relationship between self-sufficiency and international economic interaction, scientific progress, and social justice is defined in the intellectual paradigm of the Supreme Leader? The main objective of the research is to elucidate the position and function of the principle of self-sufficiency in the realization of economic authority based on the Qurʾānic thought of the Supreme Leader. In this regard, the present research endeavors to present a coherent and strategic framework of this principle by extracting the Qurʾānic foundations of self-sufficiency and analyzing the statements and directives of the Leader of the Revolution. The research method is descriptive-analytical with a Qurʾānic-discursive approach. The research data have been collected through library research, the examination of the verses of the Noble Qurʾān, the analysis of key concepts related to independence, dignity (ʿIzzah), economic solidity (Qawām), and the negation of domination, as well as the content analysis of statements, messages, and upstream documents issued by the Supreme Leader. In this research, the discourse analysis method has been utilized to discover the main components of the Leader's economic thought and the manner of its connection with Qurʾānic foundations. Moreover, policy documents related to resistance economics, as the objective manifestation of this thought, have been subjected to comparative examination. The research findings indicate that the principle of self-sufficiency in Qurʾānic thought is rooted in concepts such as the "negation of the path of domination" (Nafy al-Sabīl), the "dignity of the believers" (ʿIzzat al-Muʾminīn), the "solidity of the Islamic nation" (Qawām al-Ummah al-Islāmīyah), and "independence from the disbelievers" (Istighnāʾ ʿan al-Kuffār). The Noble Qurʾān, by emphasizing the non-submissiveness to domination of the believers and the necessity of reliance on internal capacities, delineates the theoretical foundation of self-sufficiency as a condition for preserving the identity and independence of the Islamic society. This principle, in the Qurʾānic perspective, pertains to the capability to supply basic needs, the preservation of decision-making autonomy, and the prevention of paralyzing dependencies, not economic isolation or severing ties with the world. The analysis of the statements of the Supreme Leader shows that he considers self-sufficiency to be one of the pillars of economic authority and national security, introducing it as a necessary condition for resistance against foreign pressures, sanctions, and the system of domination. From his perspective, an economy that is dependent in its strategic needs will inevitably suffer from passivity and retreat in the arenas of politics and culture as well.
On this very basis, self-sufficiency in areas such as food security, energy, strategic technologies, and knowledge-based production holds a special place in the economic thought of the Leader. The findings also demonstrate that self-sufficiency in the intellectual paradigm of the Supreme Leader is a dynamic and intelligent concept that does not conflict with constructive and active interaction with the global economy. While opposing dependency and a consumption-oriented economy, he emphasizes "dignified interaction" and "active presence in global markets." Therefore, the desired self-sufficiency does
not mean absolute autarky, but rather possessing the power of choice, bargaining, and independent decision-making in international economic relations. Among the other findings of the research is the deep bond between self-sufficiency and economic justice. In the Qurʾānic thought of the Leader, self-sufficiency is realized when domestic capacities, especially human resources, are utilized in a just and efficient manner, and economic structures are placed at the service of poverty eradication, inequality reduction, and the empowerment of vulnerable strata. Within this framework, resistance economics, as the executive model of self-sufficiency, plays a key role in the realization of economic authority. In conclusion, the present research demonstrates that the principle of self-
sufficiency, in the Qurʾānic thought of the Supreme Leader, is a fundamental, identity-bearing, and civilization-building strategy, the realization of which is considered a necessary condition for the economic authority, political independence, and sustainable progress of the Islamic society. The re-understanding and operationalization of this principle can pave the path to achieving a resilient, dynamic, and dignified economy in the Islamic Republic of Iran.