AKHBARISM AND ITS PLACE IN SHIITE JURISPRUDENCE

In the modern era, Shiism is recognized as one of the most widely followed sects in the Islamic world. Following the establishment of the Safavid state, Shah Ismail Khatai’s proclamation of Shiism as the official state religion and the subsequent policy of institutionalizing Shiite ideology within the empire resulted in the migration of a significant number of religious scholars to Safavid territories. The introduction of a new religious doctrine- Shiism- within the state structure and the growing need for learned scholars to interpret emerging jurisprudential issues accelerated the influx of scholars from various regions into the Safavid realm during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During this period, the migration of scholars from the Jabal Amil region was particularly prominent, and Shiite scholars began to settle extensively in Safavid lands, especially in the capital city. These scholars played an influential role not only in the religious sphere but also in the political and administrative life of the state. At the same time, two major intellectual currents emerged within Shiism, whose representatives disagreed on the methodology for resolving certain jurisprudential issues. Among the most significant currents that developed within Shiite thought and drew attention throughout different historical periods were Akhbarism and Usulism. This article examines Akhbarism from multiple perspectives, including its conceptual foundations, scholarly principles, prominent representatives, position within Shiite jurisprudence, and contemporary attitudes toward it in Azerbaijan. In the section devoted to Akhbari scholars, the lives and works of eminent hadith scholars such as Muhammad Amin Astarabadi, Fayz Kashani, Muhammad Taqi Majlisi, and Yusuf Bahrani are discussed, alongside an analysis of prevailing perceptions of Akhbarism during their respective historical contexts.