An Explanation of Convergence in political-Social Function Of Sharif Murteza and Sheikh Mufid’s Consensus-Centrist Way of Life

In the eve of Major Occultation, Imam Mahdi issued a decree for the Shiites to refer them to Imami jurists for obtaining religious precepts. Thus, Imami jurists became the leaders of the Shiite society in the sphere of general lieutenancy. Sheikh Mufid, as the head of Baghdad school and the Shiite potentate, stepped into the sphere of the Shiite political-social presidency intelligently with his consensus-centered way of life to confront the religious-social tensions to put forward, explain and proselytize the Imami Shiism – in an era that any denomination would be marginalized if it lacked scientific power in defending its doctrines. After the departure of Sheikh Mufid, Sharif Murteza took over the headship of Baghdad school, seminary school and authority of the Shiite community. Thus, it seems legitimate to consider a convergence between the social-political function of Sharif Murteza and the social way of life of the late head of the community. Since Sharif Murteza was closely familiar with his master’s method in confronting the religious tensions, he did not give up Sheikh Mufid’s consensus-centered method after his death; rather, he went beyond that method to rationalism and explaining Imami denomination. This article seeks to use a descriptive-analytical method to explain both the consensus-centered method of Sheikh Mufid as the head of Baghdad school and the convergence between Sharif Murteza’s social-political function with Sheikh Mufid’s way of life.