The Hermeneutics of al-Sharīf al-Murtaḍā: The Interpretation of akhbār al-āḥād in Kitāb al-Amālī

The chapter explores the hermeneutical approaches to single-strand transmission of traditions (akhbÄr al-ÄḥÄd) of the ShiÊ¿i scholarÊ¿AlÄ« b. al-Ḥusayn al-SharÄ«f al-Murtaá¸Ä (d. 436/1044), who lived during the era of the Buyid Dynasty and belonged to a prominent family of ImÄmÄ« scholars. Al-Murtaá¸Ä developed an independent methodology in interpreting hadith by applying a combination of MuÊ¿tazilite and ShiÊ¿ite principles. Contrary to the majority of Muslim scholars, including most ImÄmÄ«s, al-Murtaá¸Ä followed the MuÊ¿tazilite position of questioning the authority of khabar al-wÄḥid as a source of religious knowledge. This chapter shows that despite his critical attitude towards the authority of akhbÄr al-ÄḥÄd as conclusive arguments for his legal and theological opinions, al-Murtaá¸Ä does not categorically dismiss them either. Only such transmissions are categorically dismissed that evidently contradict reason (Ê¿aql), the first source for knowledge according to al-Murtaá¸Ä.