Principles of Jurisprudence
Ayatullah Murtaza Mutahhari
Notes:
[1] These treatise (risalehah) works are wherein the mujtahid states his verdicts on all or almost all the things that can affect daily life.
[2] The weakness of this view is understood when it is realised that many of the Traditions recorded in the reliable books, i.e. books compiled by reliable men, are opposed to each other, which naturally indicates that the only logical way of discerning the actual holy words from the false is by examining the chain of narrators. It is also to be borne in mind that for a number of reasons, such as lack of time for research or of knowledge of Transmitters etc., it may not have been possible for the reliable compilers themselves to make the necessary distinctions. Translator’s Note.
[3] Consensus is further discussed in the sixth lesson.
[4] His book is called Ta’sis ash-shi’ah ulum al-islam.
[5] This ayah and such “tacit meanings” (mafahim) are further discussed in the next lesson.
[6] taqiyah is the legitimate practice of concealing one’s faith in times of danger-sometimes by means of adopting the practices of a different faith-which was often necessary during the times of the Imams.
[7] In the final lesson, the Principles of Jurisprudence, more light is thrown on this subject.
[8] Of course the Shi’ite view is that the time of the Imam will last as long as mankind itself; what is referred to here is the era of access to the Imams. Translator’s Note.
[9] Of course if he was likely to make many mistakes he would not yet be regarded as a mujtahid at all. Translator’s Note.