Introduction The presence of contradictions between Ḥadīth (reports) attributed to the Imams within the Shīʿa corpus is an undeniable problem. One that requires explanation. This is especially so because the problem has a long back-history of being weaponised by detractors seeking to expose the inconsistency between it and the theological doctrine of the inerrancy of … Continue reading Sayyid Sīstānī on Why Shīʿa Ḥadīth Contradict (Pt. I) →

Introduction What follows is a translation of a small part of the notes of Sayyid ʿAlī al-Sīstānīʾs Baḥth al-Khārij (advance lessons) on Uṣūl al-Fiqh (legal theory) as transcribed by one of his students, Sayyid Hāshim al-Hāshimī, dating back to approximately fourty years ago[1]. The discussion concerns a major topic in Uṣūl al-Fiqh, which is, the … Continue reading Sayyid Sīstānī on Why Shīʿa and Sunni Ḥadīth Differ →

What is Fihrist? Why Fihrist? Most readers will possess a rudimentary understanding of Rijal (or Ilm al-Rijal), the discipline in which the status of a narrator is studied in order to evaluate whether his reports should be accepted or not. Much less is known about the Faharis (sing. Fihrist) - the name given to works … Continue reading A New Approach to Authenticating Shia Hadith – The Bahth al-Fihristi →

Introduction Shaykh Tusi (d. 460) stands out among that famous trio (the other two being Kulayni and Saduq) for having authored two of the ‘Four Books’ of Hadith (i.e. Tahdhib al-Ahkam and al-Istibsar fi ma-khtalafa min al-Akhbar). These books are rightly considered to be the bed-rock of Twelver Imami jurisprudence. Despite the recognition they have achieved … Continue reading Tusi and the Tahdhibayn (Pt. I) →