A Review of Traditionalism and the Possibility of its Being Influenced by Western Sensualism

At the end of the tenth century AH a new trend in Shia figh came to existence and it influenced the atmosphere of figh, (Osul), theology and Shia philosophy for two centuries. Attaching Shiah scholars, this trend, known as traditionalism, marginalized the principles of Islam. Some of the traditionalists accused scholars of Usool of heresy and considered them heretic, heathen and propagandists for Sunnism. The consequences of this thought led scholars to expound the main causes behind the emergence of this trend. so that some great scholars critized its results. Among these causes anticipated by Shahid Mutahhari, quoting from Ayatollah Borujerdi and Shahid Sadr. Traditionalist might have been influenced by their contemporary western sensualists. This article, using a descriptive-analytic method, seeks to investigate the different evidence and thoughts of the tenth century's eminent traditionalists who were contemporary with Francis Bacon and evaluate this perspective. Accordingly, referring to some evidence, some of the causes of this thought and its ramifications have been examined.