Sayyid Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad: Difference between revisions
| Line 85: | Line 85: | ||
Mohaghegh Damad believes in the separation between caliphate and imamate. He is of opinion that the caliphate as a form and structure of government is an earthly, executive, and non-sacred matter, while the imamate holds a religious, spiritual, and sacred position; therefore, the caliphate pertains to political and executive management of society and can be administered by non-infallible people, but the imamate is a divine and spiritual status restricted to the Infallible Imams. In his view, the separation of these two concepts helps us to understand the history of Islam and the role of the Infallible Imams in the political developments of that era more accurately. Mohaghegh Damad explains this distinction by citing the peace treaty between Imam Hasan (AS) and Mu'awiya. Based on his analysis, Imam Hasan (AS) ceded the caliphate, i.e. the political management, to Mu'awiya and so he showed that the caliphate is separated from the imamate and giving in to the political circumstances at that time did not mean giving up the religious and sacred position, but rather giving up the government. So, considering the interests of the Islamic society, the Infallible Imams can entrust the reins of executive affairs to a non-infallible person.<ref>Mohaghegh Damad, "Session on 'Peace and War, Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil'."</ref> | Mohaghegh Damad believes in the separation between caliphate and imamate. He is of opinion that the caliphate as a form and structure of government is an earthly, executive, and non-sacred matter, while the imamate holds a religious, spiritual, and sacred position; therefore, the caliphate pertains to political and executive management of society and can be administered by non-infallible people, but the imamate is a divine and spiritual status restricted to the Infallible Imams. In his view, the separation of these two concepts helps us to understand the history of Islam and the role of the Infallible Imams in the political developments of that era more accurately. Mohaghegh Damad explains this distinction by citing the peace treaty between Imam Hasan (AS) and Mu'awiya. Based on his analysis, Imam Hasan (AS) ceded the caliphate, i.e. the political management, to Mu'awiya and so he showed that the caliphate is separated from the imamate and giving in to the political circumstances at that time did not mean giving up the religious and sacred position, but rather giving up the government. So, considering the interests of the Islamic society, the Infallible Imams can entrust the reins of executive affairs to a non-infallible person.<ref>Mohaghegh Damad, "Session on 'Peace and War, Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil'."</ref> | ||
== | == Akhund Khurasani's School of Fiqh and Usul== | ||
Mohaghegh Damad considers Sheikh Ansari's inclination toward rational and philosophical discussions to be one of his outstanding merits and believes that | Mohaghegh Damad considers Sheikh Ansari's inclination toward rational and philosophical discussions to be one of his outstanding merits and believes that his students, including [[Mohammad-Kazem Akhund Khorasani|Akhund Khorasani]], also tend to this procedure. This is represented in the works of Akhund's students such as [[Muhaqqiq Isfahani]], [[Mohammad-Hossein Gharavi Na'ini|Mirza Na'ini]], and Aqa Zia Iraqi.<ref>Mohaghegh Damad, Akhund Khurasani's School of Jurisprudence, pp. 43–44.</ref> According to him, Akhund Khorasani's Ijtihad was a "Methodological (Art-oriented) Ijtihad" characterized by the following features: | ||
* Establishing a principle or rule before examining primary sources | * Establishing a principle or rule before examining primary sources | ||