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The Theory of ‘Compulsory Knowledge’ in the Belief of the Earliest Imami Thinkers
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Mohammad Taqi Subhani   , Mohammad Hossein Montazeri |
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Abstract: (27 Views) |
Muslim thinkers consider faith and guidance to be dependent on knowledge of the fundamental doctrinal teachings, but what characteristics this "knowledge" possesses, what subjects it includes, and how it is acquired by humans, has always been a subject of debate throughout the history of Islamic thought. Among them, Imami thinkers in the Kufa school, in response to these questions, proposed the theory of "Compulsory Knowledge" based on the Qur'an and the Shi'i hadith tradition. The prevalent belief of the early Imamis was that the complete content of knowledge was granted in prior worlds and that humans inherently and actually possess the content of this knowledge within their consciousness; thus, knowledge is made by God and is not attainable by human acquisition, and humans must merely be reminded of the content of this knowledge. However, among the early Imami thinkers, the school of Hisham ibn al-Hakam, which was a pioneer in the theological discussions of early Imami thought, attempted to present a more rationally acceptable interpretation of the Imami belief. He considered the actualization of compulsory knowledge to be contingent upon reasoning and reflection, so as to both avoid criticisms and to create an acceptable role for "rational reasoning." |
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| Keywords: compulsory knowledge, Imami thinkers |
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Full-Text [PDF 1027 kb]
(15 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/8 | Accepted: 2025/04/30 | Published: 2025/04/30
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