The Architecture of Wise Interaction Between Spouses: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Underlying Factors from the Perspective of the Holy Qur’an with Emphasis on Tafsir al-Mizan

Extended Abstract
 
Introduction and Objectives: The family, as a foundational institution, plays a central role in providing tranquility and supporting human development. The quality of spousal interactions constitutes a decisive factor in the stability of this institution. Wise interaction represents an elevated level of relational engagement, one that transcends emotional reactivity and is grounded in conscious decision-making and rational deliberation.
Although psychological studies have conceptualized wisdom as an individual trait associated with outcomes such as resilience and life satisfaction, and domestic religious research has explored its conceptual dimensions within primary Islamic sources, there remains a notable research gap in two areas:
(1) The lack of theorization regarding relational and interactional patterns of wise conduct within the dynamic context of marital life; and
(2) The gap between prevailing psychological theories and the deeply value-oriented and ontological foundations necessary for attributing meaning to interpersonal interactions.
Drawing upon authoritative religious sources, this study seeks to bridge this gap. Its primary purpose is to identify and construct a coherent conceptual architecture of the fundamental components and underlying factors that facilitate wise interaction between spouses from the perspective of the Holy Qur’an, with emphasis on Tafsir al-Mizan. These components are explored not as isolated elements but as a dynamic and interconnected network. The central research questions revolve around identifying these underlying components and explicating the overarching conceptual architecture that governs their relationships and integrative mechanisms within a holistic framework.
Method: This study employed a qualitative approach using inductive qualitative content analysis to identify and interpret the underlying components of wise interaction between couples from the Qur’anic perspective. The data source consisted of Qur’anic verses accompanied by their corresponding commentaries in Tafsir al-Mizan. Sampling was conducted purposively using the criterion of maximum variation (in terms of surahs and thematic diversity), followed by screening based on direct relevance to the research questions and interpretive richness. Ultimately, 27 verses along with their full exegesis were selected as the final sample.
The unit of analysis was defined as each verse together with its relevant commentary in al-Mizan. Data analysis proceeded through four stages: open coding, focused coding, axial coding, and selective coding. This process began with approximately 150 initial codes and was progressively refined into four central themes (underlying components).
To ensure the validity of the extracted model, expert validation was conducted. A researcher designed questionnaire, including methodological details and extracted components supported by Qur’anic and exegetical evidence, was reviewed by nine experts in Qur’anic sciences, Islamic psychology, and family counseling. Their assessments, based on the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Ratio (CVR), demonstrated strong agreement and statistical confirmation of the content validity and structural necessity of the four identified components, thereby establishing the conceptual reliability of the final model.
Findings: Qualitative analysis led to the identification of four key and interrelated components as the underlying factors enabling wise interaction between spouses from the perspective of the Qur’an and Tafsir al-Mizan:

Self-regulation: The foundational capability to manage emotions and impulses.
Self–relationship awareness: Deep understanding of oneself and one’s role within the relationship.
Economic security: Stability and rational management of livelihood and financial resources.
Future-oriented prudence: Joint planning and foresight for shared life goals.

These components are not conceptualized as direct interactional behaviors but rather as psychological-structural prerequisites that create the conditions necessary for informed and rational relational exchanges. They collectively form a coherent enabling architecture in which each component dynamically and reciprocally strengthens the others. For instance, self-regulation facilitates relational awareness; relational awareness enhances financial management; and financial stability supports future-oriented planning.
This dynamic network constitutes the essential foundation for the emergence of process-level elements of wise interaction—such as collaborative decision-making or constructive conflict management. In the absence of this foundational network, positive interactions are either unlikely to occur or will lack the stability and quality required for sustainable marital functioning.
Figure 1: Conceptual model of contextual components in the intelligent interaction of spouses.
Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of this study identify four components—self-regulation, self–relationship awareness, economic security, and future-oriented prudence—as an integrated architecture that underpins wise interaction between spouses from the perspective of the Qur’anic framework. When these results are compared with current knowledge in social and psychological sciences, there is a clear alignment at the functional level—such as emotion regulation and financial stress management—while notable differences emerge at the foundational level, highlighting the developmental progression of these components.
The Qur’anic-Tafsir perspective transcends the realm of merely skill-based competencies, endowing these components with deep semiotic, ethical, and ontological significance. Accordingly, self-regulation is elevated to a moral virtue, and future-oriented prudence is subsumed within the concept of responsible piety (takwa). This framework redefines marital relationships not just as psychological phenomena but as ethical-rational institutions, transforming the family into a domain where practical relational wisdom is practiced and cultivated.
Within this model, the identified components serve the realization of the relationship’s ultimate ideals—sakinah (tranquility), maddah (affection), and rahmah (mercy)—by acting as foundational precursors that enable the unfolding of virtuous and meaningful interactions. The study marks an initial but significant step in re-examining religious texts through an interdisciplinary lens, which has the potential to inspire future quantitative, comparative, and intervention-based research.
Overall, the proposed model demonstrates how simultaneous attention to the psychological-structural (context) and value-semantic (direction) dimensions can foster a sustainable and growth-promoting bond—one that responds to terrestrial needs while aspiring toward celestial ideals.
Acknowledgments: The author sincerely appreciates the valuable efforts of esteemed scholars who meticulously and patiently contributed to the qualitative evaluation of this research. Their insightful comments and constructive guidance played a pivotal role in enhancing the final quality of this article.
Conflict of Interest: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest related to this study.