Disputation of Traditionists with Legal Theoreticians over the Validity of External Meanings

According to the traditionists (akhbārīs)، “inference of theoretical precepts from the external meanings of the Qur’ān and the sunna of the Prophet without reference to the Infallible Imams is not permitted. Also، after enquiry into the sayings of the Imams، if no contextual evidence is found، it has to be ceased and no recourse can be made to the above external meanings.” The reasons that akhbārīs have provided on this claim are varied; however، their most significant reasons are the traditions that they claim to be frequently narrated (mutawātir). This article examines the reasons that the akhbārīs have presented for their claim or attributed to them. The conclusions achieved from this examination include the following: 1. Ḥadīth al-thaqalayn has the capacity to be a reason for both akhbārīs and uṣūlīs; 2. The akhbārīs have not referred to the distortion of the Qur’ān as evidence in this claim; but in the later writings of uṣūlīs such allegation has been made against them، which is an inadvisable allegation; 3. The claim of the akhbārīs is not compatible with the present realities of life in Islamic communities; and their claim is highly ideal but inaccessible.