Studying Shīʿī Hadith and History
Does He Have a Methodology? Kulayni does not give us the Manhaj (methodology) he follows when selecting reports for inclusion in al-Kafi. The only thing we have to work with is a critical passage towards the end of the Khutba (preface) where he outlines three principles that should be followed in the face of contradiction … Continue reading Kulayni and al-Kafi (Pt. II)
Introduction The Four Books (i.e. al-Kafi, Man La Yahdhuruhu al-Faqih, Tahdhib al-Ahkam, al-Istibsar fi ma-khtalafa min al-Akhbar) are rightly considered to be the bed-rock of Twelver Imami Hadith. Despite the recognition they have achieved in Shi’i discourse, many commit the error of treating them under the same rubric, without considering the vastly different motivations and … Continue reading Kulayni and al-Kafi (Pt. I)
Introduction Not everyone in the Shi'i scholarly tradition has been on-board with the direction of travel of systematic theology, beginning as it does with the Kalam (rational theology) of the Mu'tazili influenced Baghdadi scholars in the Buyid era, passing by way of the Peripatetic-influenced thinking of Khwaja Nasir al-Din Tusi (d. 1274), and culminating in the … Continue reading What is the First thing that is Wajib on Humans? The View of an Akhbari Scholar
Introduction There are reports which indicate that all the companions were destroyed except three, these were then joined by four others, and they became seven who were saved. Were the saved companions only seven? Furthermore, if this destruction is taken to be limited to their fate in the next world then we do not doubt that many … Continue reading Did the Sahaba become Kafir? Pt. I
Introduction One of the claims made by those seeking to weaken confidence in our Hadith corpus[1] is that many of the books of the companions of the Imams were affected by the hidden hand of the Ghulat, who were inserting reports into these books, before distributing the tainted material among an unsuspecting Shia. It is … Continue reading Are Shia Hadiths Reliable?
