Contents

Preface VII

Acknowledgements XVI

1 Introduction to Islamic Legal Theory 1

1 The Emergence of Shrism and the Twelvers 8

2 Formative Period of Shi'ite Legal Theory 13

3 Medieval Period of Shite Legal Theory 20

4 Modern Period of Shi'ite Legal Theory 29

4-³ PreludetoModemLegalTheory 40

2 The Non-authoritativeness of Conjecture 44

1 The Nature of Conjecture 45

2 Scriptural Justifications against Conjecture 46

3 Rational Justifications against Conjecture 50

3.1 SadrsCrittgueoftheRatonalJustfcaton 4؟ 9٠2 Inrplicationsof SlrsEpistentology 94

3 The Authoritativeness of Certainty 59

1 Definition of Certainty 60

2 Nature of Certainty 62

2-³ HydarrsAssumption 69

3 Justifications for the Authoritativeness of Certainty 72

9-³ ExistentialAuthoritativenessofCertainty 73 9٠2 PostulatedAuthoritativenessofCertainty 74

9.3 RationalAuthoritativenessofCertainty 77

4 The Authoritativeness of Substantiated Conjecture 81

1 The Theory of Insidad 82

2 The Theory of Zann al-Khass 91

2Λ Authoritativenessof IsolatedReports JonrDefntive ScripturalEvidence 99

2.2 AuthortativenessofIsolatedReportsJr^omDe,J^n'tt'n^eConsensus 99

2.3 AuthortativenessofIsolatedReportsJronrDefntive

RationalConvention κ>2

CONTENTS

5 Implications of Legal Epistemology on Ijtihad 106

1 The Case of Apostacy 107

2 Space for Reformation 116

3 The Future of Ijtihad and Shi'ite Orthodoxy 121

Bibliography 127

Index 140