Rethinking the Distribution Model in Iran’s Economy with Emphasis on Shahid Sadr’s Perspective

Islamic economics, with its emphasis on justice, spirituality, and efficiency, offers a distinct paradigm from prevailing economic schools for structuring economic systems—one in which distribution is not a secondary or post-productive concern, but the foundational starting point of economic design. A significant part of Iran’s current economic crises stems from structural deficiencies in the distribution of wealth and resources. This study, using a descriptive-analytical approach and grounded in the principles of Islamic economics—particularly Shahid Sadr’s theory of distribution—analyzes the ownership of natural resources, access to informational opportunities, and the formation of structural inequalities. It argues that resolving the current challenges is impossible without a fundamental reform of ownership and resource allocation mechanisms at the pre-production stage. The findings reveal that much of the economic inequality and resource imbalance in Iran arises from unjust, monopolistic, and rent-seeking allocation of primary resources and economic privileges. The article concludes by proposing a set of practical policy recommendations, including: revisiting the structure of public resource ownership, institutionalizing fair mechanisms for natural resource utilization, expanding Islamic redistribution instruments, enhancing transparency and public oversight in market regulation and economic licensing, enforcing anti-monopoly policies, promoting competitive market structures, implementing equity-oriented fiscal reforms, and ensuring regional balance in the allocation of resources and opportunities.