The Nature, Credibility and Criterion for Validity of 'Priority Analogy' According to Imamiyyah School of Jurisprudence

Priority analogy (Qias awlawiyat) is a juridical principle having a lot of functions in the jurisprudence because many rules can be derived by means of it. Given the fact that this issue is rooted in Ilm al-Usul (principles of jurisprudence), efforts have been made in this study to present a precise definition of 'priority analogy' as well as to examine the history of its development. Moreover, the validity of this principles and the source of its validity have been discussed and elaborated upon resulting in the conclusion that 'priority analogy' is considered to be among the verbal proofs and it is something other than the qiyas (analogy) whose invalidity is agreed upon by Shia scholars. Inspired by two narrations from Imam Sadiq (AS) the writer endeavors to prove that every 'priority analogy' cannot be a valid 'analogy', and that the application of this analogy is in need scrutiny in the subject-matter. In this research, attention has been paid to the words of both early and contemporary Shia scholars so that the significance of 'priority analogy' may well become clear. The differentiation of 'priority analogy' from other tools and means of deduction as well determining of the precise criterion concerning the authority of 'priority analogy' are among the goals of this article. The research follows a method involving the analysis of contents and premises.