Anti-Akhbarist Feelings among the Scholars of the Qajar Period With an Emphasis on Bagher-e Khansari (d. 1313 A.H.L.)

The difference of opinion between the two Akhbari and Usuli schools of law began with a long challenge between the two in the 11th and 12th centuries (A.H.L.) before ending in the 13th century. During this time blood relations and inter-marital connections between the Usuli scholars strengthened the position of Usuli Mujtahids (jurists) and caused solidarity among them vis-à-vis the viewpoints of Akhbari scholars. Following up on the existing intimacy between religious scholars and taking up the case study of Mirza Mohammad Bagher-e Khansari, this paper tries to present an analysis about the causes of anti Akhbarism among the clergy of the Qajar period. The writer has chosen a restudy of anti-Akhbarist treatises in Khansari’s “Rawdhat ul-Jannat” and his inter-marital relations with other opponents of the Akhbaris as his main points of focus here.