A comparative study of the Imamat methodology of researching the merits of electricity and Basa'er al-Deraj Safar

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Document Type : Original Article

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Department of Shia Studies, Faculty of Islamic Studies, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

The present research comparatively examines the methodology of Imamat studies in Al-Mahasin by al-Barqi and Basa’ir al-Darajat by al-Saffar. The main issue of this study is: with what approach and narrative structure has each of these works explained the Imamat? The research hypothesis suggests that the theological concerns and intellectual backgrounds of each traditionist have influenced their narrative style and the organization of the hadiths.

The research method is descriptive-analytical. The results indicate that both authors regarded the Imamat as the axis of all religious affairs; however, al-Barqi, in Al-Mahasin, adopts a practical and educational approach in explaining the doctrine of the Imamat, by demonstrating the link between belief in the Imamat and the religious life of the believer in areas such as the reward for deeds and the punishment for sins. In contrast, al-Saffar, in Basa’ir al-Darajat, highlights the intrinsic, spiritual, and existential dimensions of the Imamat by focusing on the stations (maqamat) and virtues of the Imams (a.s.).

The final conclusion of the research indicates that the difference in the authors’ objectives and epistemological horizons has led to the creation of two distinct patterns in Imamat studies: al-Barqi’s ethical-creedal pattern and al-Saffar’s faith-gnostic pattern, which collectively present a dual image of the evolution of Shi’a hadith methodology in the early centuries.

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Theology Journal

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 September 2026

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