Journal of Razavi Culture

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.