The Status of Traditions and Their Evaluation in Sayyid Murtada’s View
Sayyid Murtada was an outstanding Shiite scholar in the fifth century (After Hijrah). He was an expert in various Islamic sciences including: fiqh, osul, theology, hadith and interpretation of the Qur’an. Despite his considerable tendency toward a rational approach in his works, he paid particular attention to traditions. In his view, all the available traditions can be classified into two general groups: definite and informative; doubtful and non-informative. Based on his own specific criteria (e.g. not contradicting the common sense) he approves the sound traditions; meanwhile, he appeals to reasoning to criticize the internal validity of the traditions. He either interprets the traditions which contradict the common sense, or rejects them if they are un-interpretable. Sayyid Murtada does not approve the traditions narrated by non-Shiite narrators and the ones who are the followers of un-credible sects. His approach toward the traditions include: verification, criticism, and argument. He had a considerable role in the study of the Shiite traditions and he had significant views concerning the validation of the traditions. His views include: development of the theory of rejection of isolated traditions; refutation of the believers in judicial reasoning by analogy; application of theological-literary approaches in explanation and criticism of the traditions. He approves only the widely transmitted traditions or the ones which can be considered so; the traditions which are not widely transmitted (even if there are a considerable number of such traditions) are not approvable. Such traditions are just viewed as evidences that support the reasoning if they agree with absolute proofs.
Keywords: Sayyid Murtada, traditions, validation
* Corresponding author, assistant professor, Qura’an and Hadith University, Tehran Complex
** Professor, Qur’an and Hadith Department, Tehran University
