A Historiographical Analysis of the Development of Shiʿism up to the Era of Imam Riḍā A.S., with Special Emphasis on the Wāqifiyya

Sattar, Hossein; Valipoor, Reza

doi:10.22034/farzv.2025.496674.2062

A Historiographical Analysis of the Development of Shiʿism up to the Era of Imam Riḍā A.S., with Special Emphasis on the Wāqifiyya

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hossein Sattar ¹

reza valipoor ²

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Literature, University of Kashan, Iran

² EDUCATION

https://doi.org/10.22034/farzv.2025.496674.2062

Abstract

This study, employing a conceptual history (History of Ideas) approach, analyzes the emergence of the Waqifah sect within the broader intellectual developments of the Imamiyah up to the time of Imam al-Ridha. Rather than representing a definitive schism, the formation of the Waqifah is interpreted as a product of internal cognitive tensions and evolving ideas regarding leadership, legitimacy, and occultation following the death of Imam al-Kadhim. The study critically reexamines traditional narratives—especially those presented by heresiographers and historians—through the lens of conceptual transformation. It argues that the Waqifah phenomenon was not an external rupture but an internal evolution rooted in diverse interpretations within Imamism. This analysis underscores the importance of rethinking early Shiite sectarianism using modern analytical tools and highlights the contingent, negotiated nature of religious authority in early Shiism.

Keywords

Conceptual History, Waqifah, Imam al-Kadhim, Imam al-Ridha, Imamiyah, Sectarianism, Religious Authority. Cite this The Author (s): Sattar, H

Valipour, R (2026). A Historiographical Analysis of the Development of Shiʿism up to the Era of Imam Riḍā A.S., with Special Emphasis on the Wāqifiyya: Quarterly Scientific Journal of Farhang Razavi. Year 14, Issue 2, Summer 2026, Serial Number 54 &n

(93- 124)- DOI:10.22034/farzv.2025.496674.2062 Publisheder: Unversity of Tehran Press

Subjects

Promotion and deepening of Razavi culture and education

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