چکیده:
Numerous ranking systems have been internationally used to evaluate and rank cities worldwide. However, the conventional indices of these systems often lack appropriateness and conformity with the value and cultural systems of different urban communities, rendering them inefficient for evaluating and comparing cities in specific cultural contexts. In Iran, where culture is deeply intertwined with Islamic values, this mismatch necessitates the development of city ranking indices grounded in a monotheistic worldview and Islamic teachings. This study aims to apply a theoretical model and an operational assessment framework for ranking Iranian metropolises (selected based on official documents) through an Islamic approach. The research was conducted in two main steps. In the first step, semi-structured interviews with experts and qualitative content analysis using MAXQDA software were employed to extract the indices. In the second step, eleven Iranian metropolises were ranked using the TOPSIS technique. The findings identify five fundamental pillars of city ranking based on the Iranian-Islamic approach: 1) the intellectual-ideological aspect of Muslim Iranian citizens, 2) the livelihood of Muslim Iranian citizens, 3) interactions between citizens, 4) the interactions of the city, and 5) the city context. The ranking results show that Yazd ranked first (score = 0.499), followed by Mashhad (score = 0.376) and Rasht (score = 0.375). Finally, some policy recommendations are presented in the form of a promotion document to improve the performance of the studied cities.