In his modern "story," Shariati describes how the Machine (industrial production) fell into the hands of the bourgeoisie.
His critique often took the form of a socio-historical narrative. Below is a story-like summary of Shariati's perspective on capitalism: The Story of the "Economic Animal" Kapitalizm - Ali Ећeriati
Shariati argues that over time, religious elites (clerics) created a "right-wing" version of Islam that made peace with capitalism, teaching the poor to accept their lot as "God-given" while the rich "cleansed" their wealth with minor rituals. In his modern "story," Shariati describes how the
He highlights Abu Dharr , a close companion of the Prophet, who stood against this accumulation, arguing that wealth must serve the people. He highlights Abu Dharr , a close companion
Ali Shariati , the influential Iranian sociologist often called the "ideologue of the Iranian Revolution," viewed capitalism not just as an economic system, but as a spiritual "dungeon" that reshapes the human essence into a "worshipper of consumption".
Man, once a "microcosm of God," is reduced to a "mere extension of a wrench".
Economy becomes the new deity. To keep the machines running, capitalism must "modernize" people, but only in terms of consumption. It forces nations to abandon their cultural identities to become markets for Western goods, effectively turning humans into "economic animals".