The Rule of Tolerance in Methodology of Imam’s Critical Thinking

Despite the claim of prevalence and consensus among the Shia and Sunni scholars about the authority of the rule of tolerance regarding the documents of traditions, some of the later jurisprudents, directly or indirectly do not consider the documents of this rule sufficient to support it. The advocates of this rule have relied on the contents of correct reports of whatever has been handed down by the Infallibles and have not relied on the weak reports of recommendation based on one of the following four approaches: Proof of recommendation for doing a deed as the first title, as the second title (under the hope for reward), through occurrence of exigency or creation of recommended caution. The opponents offer reasons such as guidance by reason or reports about the divine grace to criticize the arguments of the advocates. In viewpoint of Imam Khomeini, the reward in the reports handed down from the Infallibles is a reward or prize stipulated by the Lawgiver and depends on the awareness of the doer of the rewards of so and so deed and then in the hope of receiving that reward would practice it. It is just like what happens in Je’aleh contract. Hence, these reports do not allude to receiving reward. In his viewpoint, such reports on encouraging the doer to do what has been recommended by the Infallibles is to protect the traditions and real recommended deeds. The contention of this study is that if the document of the report of what has been handed down from the Infallibles is not fabricated – as some jurisprudents maintain – it is a single report which does not denote to being recommended.