Emotional, Social, and Moral Intelligence in the Works of Sa’di Shirazi: A Psychological Interpretation of Gulistan and Būstān

This study explores the psychological dimensions of emotional, social, and moral intelligence in the works of Sa’di Shirazi, focusing on Gulistan (1258) and Būstān (1257) as literary frameworks for ethical cognition and affective learning. Employing qualitative thematic analysis, the research identifies key indicators of emotional self-regulation, empathy, social awareness, and moral responsibility embedded in Sa’di’s verses. The findings demonstrate that Sa’di anticipates the conceptual foundations of modern psychology—particularly Goleman’s emotional intelligence model—by framing emotion, reason, and virtue as mutually reinforcing faculties. Sa’di’s poetic pedagogy transforms ethical reflection into experiential education, integrating Sufi ethics with psychological insight. His synthesis of poetic creativity, psychological realism, and ethical pedagogy reveals that genuine education must engage both intellect and emotion. The study concludes that Sa’di’s works present an indigenous model of holistic intelligence predating contemporary theories of emotional literacy. This model offers a culturally grounded paradigm for psychology, cross-cultural moral education, and emotional well-being.