Theological and philosophical Analysis of Ibn Qiyama's Narrative on the Issue of Continuity of Authority (Ḥojjat) and the Presence of Two Speaking Imams in the Same Era
Volume 13, Issue 52, Autumn 2025, Pages 131-150
https://doi.org/10.22034/farzv.2024.464265.2011
Ramin Golmakani, Sayyed Ali Delbari, Mohammad Hosain Davoodi Dehaqani
Abstract The existence of divine proof at all times and its continuation until the Day of Resurrection is one of the tenets of Shia belief, even among the branch sects; Hence, even the Waqifites (Waaqefiyyah) and the opponents of Imam Reza’s (p. b. u. h) imamate came through this principle in rejecting him and denied his Imamate. However, during the narration that is analyzed in the following article, Hazrat Reza, peace be upon him, answered the deniers of his Imamate. The imamate of Imam Reza (p. b. u. h) was doubted once after the martyrdom of his noble father, and it led to the formation of waaqefiyah, and once again, the fact that he did not have children at an advanced age caused doubts among some of his followers. so that some of them converted to waaqefiya; Despite this, there was a definite belief in the continuity of divine proofs in the beliefs of the Shiites, to such an extent that even the Waqifites had no choice but to adapt their deviant beliefs to this original belief in order to achieve their goals. This article, while re-reading Ibn Bashar’s narration, explains Ibn Qiyama’s conversation with the Imam of the Waaqefiyyah group, with a verbal and ruling approach, explaining the Imamate after him. The issue of the earth not being empty of imams from a theological point of view, on the one hand, and the issue of the absence of two speaking imams at the same time from a ruling point of view, on the other hand, are two important and fundamental points in this article; that Ibn Qiyamai Waaqefi in his conversation with Imam Reza (p. b. u. h) acknowledges both of the mentioned issues. Due to the lack of specific background in this field, The innovation of this article is in this aspect, which makes it clear in an interdisciplinary way with a theological and ruling point of view, and in a descriptive and analytical method, while examining and analyzing the content of the mentioned hadith, and analyzing the various affairs of the Imamate, that the dignity of Wilayat is the only dignity that The title of Hojjat, meaning intermediary in divine grace, is continuous and manifests in only one person from the divine saints at any time and cannot be assigned to two people at the same time.