Studying Shīʿī Hadith and History
“There is no judgment that is pronounced correctly and pursuant to the truth except that its origin, key, cause, and knowledge proceeds from ʿAlī and ourselves. But when contradictions arose and the matter became confusing to them they resorted to using qiyās (analogy) and acting upon raʾy (reasoned opinion). So whenever they apply qiyās they … Continue reading Proving the Authenticity of Imami Law: A Case Study
The Mystery of the Shroud A Comparative Study of Shīʿī and Sunni Reports Introduction What was the Messenger of Allah shrouded in? Not an inconsequential question for Muslims who seek to model all aspects of their lives on that of a man whom they consider their exemplar par excellence. A strange thing happens, however, … Continue reading The Mystery of the Shroud
Additional Evidence for the Meaning of Ḥarf I have argued that the key term Ḥarf referred to a pre-standardization Qirāʾa (recitation) associated with a certain companion i.e. the specific wording by which a companion recited the Qur’an was his Ḥarf. Some of the evidence to support this has already been presented in a previous installment, … Continue reading Tahrif or Not? A Shi’i Perspective on the Seven Ahruf Reports (Pt. IV)
For the one and only Shāh of Khurāsān In the hope that you come to the aid of your most humble servant in his day of need Introduction When our Shaykh al-Ṣadūq (d. 381) journeyed to Naysābūr in the year 352, he went to the house of a Sunni Ḥākim (judge) by the name … Continue reading Recovering a Lost Biography: Abū Bakr al-Ṣūlī’s Portrayal of al-Riḍā
Matn al-Ḥadīth Can the Shia pray behind the Mukhālifīn (non-Shia) or not? This is a practical question that our earliest predecessors must have asked themselves seeing as they were a minority group who sometimes had to dissimulate and partake in public ritual with the majority. One interesting report that gives us a precious window into … Continue reading Like Praying behind a Wall!
Shiitic Studies 