A Study of the Consequences of the Theory of Legal Addresses in Usul al-Fiqh

The concept of legal addresses (khitabāt qanuniyah) is one of Imam Khomeini's scientific innovations in the field of Usul-e Fiqh or legal theories. He has presented this concept as a part of the discussion concerning the methodology of legislation and issuance of legal rulings. Thus, those instructions or messages which are not directed to a particular person and are common and general have been issued with the intention of establishing a law not taking into consideration the power and knowledge – as the different situations of the duty-bound (mukallaf) – as qualifiers. In fact, the ordinance is directed to the general title postulated in the address. Since this theory enjoys tremendous importance and has far-reaching implications in legal studies, the article seeks to examine its important effects and implications in the principles of jurisprudence. This research has been conducted using descriptive and analytical method and referring to library data. The result of this study is the clarification of the implications of this theory in a number of important issues and topics of the principles of jurisprudence.