Matin Research Journal

Matin Research Journal

Legal and Sharia Foundations of Widespread Traditions (With an Approach Based on Imam Khomeini’s Theory)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
gholamreza yazdani 1
Hamid Reza Mousavipour 2
1 Assistant Professor, Razavi University of Islamic Sceinces, Mashhad, Iran. (Corresponding Author)
2 Assistant Professor, Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar Branch, Sabzevar, Iran.
10.22034/matin.2022.207388.1559
Abstract
The rules of evidence in legal lawsuits are confined to the cases mentioned in law, among which testimony of the witnesses may be referred to. One of the conditions governing testimony of the witnesses is that they must testify in certain and irrevocable tone what they have seen or heard. In other words, certain knowledge of the witness on the event is a major condition for legality of the testimony and the witness must testify what he/she has witnessed in person certainly and he/she cannot testify based on probability or conjecture. However, in terms of some issues such as affiliation, marriage, endowment, … it is said that the witness can testify by virtue of widespread tradition, although there is difference of opinion among the jurists and researchers on what cases and when such testimony can be made. A group of jurists believe in presumptive widespread tradition while others approve propositional widespread tradition as a useful and ordinary practice. Among them, Imam Khomeini is of the opinion that widespread tradition may be invoked in testimony only when it is constructive to certain and conscious knowledge; hence, legal and Sharia foundations of widespread tradition are not confined to certain cases either. Readdressing this issue is important because in many cases, there is no possibility of introducing witness or presenting testimony with legally acceptable conditions but widespread tradition exists due to prevalence of an issue. In this research study, developed through analytical-descriptive methodology, while laying emphasis on Imam Khomeini’s decree, with respect to necessity of evidentiary documentation of certain evidences in court ruling, except in cases presumptive evidence is exceptionally acceptable according to the law, it is concluded that presumptive widespread tradition – when constructive to certain and conscious knowledge – can be accepted as an evidence of testimony and its legal and Sharia foundations are not confined to certain cases. Rather, in any case where observation is excused or impossible, widespread tradition can be invoked to.
Keywords
Widespread tradition
hearsay
testimony
prevalence
conscious knowledge
-  Abouata, M. &  Baharloo, A.(2017). Hearsay as an Evidence. Journal of Studies in Islamic Law & Jurisprudence, 9(16), 31-52. https://doi.org/10.22075/feqh.2017.761
-  Al-Asfoor, H. (n.d.). Al’anwar allawamie fi sharh mafatih alsharayie. Qom: Majma Al-Bohuth Al-Elmiyah, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Allama Hilli, H. (1990).The explanation of the learned in the rules of religion. Tehran: Publishing Institute affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Allama Hilli, H. (1992).The rules of the rules in the knowledge of the lawful and the forbidden. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Qom Seminary Teachers Association, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Allama Hilli, H. (1999).Writing the rules of Sharia on the religion of the Imams. Qom: Imam Sadegh Institute, First Edition.[In Arabic]
-  Allama Hilli, H. (2000). Talthis Al-Moram fi Marehat Al-Ahkam.Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Qom Seminary Teachers Association, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Allama Hilli, H. (1989). Guide the minds to the rules of faith. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Qom Seminary Teachers Association, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Amidi, S. A.(1995). knz alfawayid fay hala mushaklat alqawaeid. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated to Qom Seminary Society of Teachers, First edition. [In Arabic]
-  Fakhr Ul-Muhaqqiqin, M. (1967). Izah Al-Favaed. Qom: Moassese Esmaileyan, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Faqani, A. (1997). Al-Dar Al-Manzud in the knowledge of the form of intentions,intentions and contracts. Qom: Imam al-Asr (AS) Scientific Library, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Fayyaz, M. I. (n.d.). Minhaj Al-Saleheen. [In Arabic]
-  Fazel Hendi, M. (1995). Kashf Al-lesam. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Qom Seminary Teachers Association, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Fazel Lankarani, M. (1999). Tafsil al-Shari’ah; Al-Ghaza. Qom: The jurisprudential center of the pure Imams (peace be upon them), First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Fazil Miqdad, M. (1983). Al-Tanghih Al-raeh Lmokhtasar Al-Sharaeh. Qom: Ayatollah MarashiNajafi Quds Library Publications. [In Arabic]
-  Golpayegani, S. M.R. (1984). Certificates book (Kitab Al-Shahadat). Qom: Moalef Ah-kitab, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Hasanzade, M. (2014). “Estefaze” and its Role in Proof of Action.The Judiciarys LawJournal, 78(87), 31-46.doi: 10.22106/JLJ.2014.11564
-  Hassani, SH.  Amirzadeh Jirkoli, M. &  Mohammadalizadeh, J.(2020). Jurisprudence Basics for Local Research Circumstantial Evidence. Research Scientific Journal of Jurisprudence and Bases of Islamic law, 13(3), 57-72. https://jil.bonab.iau.ir/article_677147.html?lang=en
- Ibn Dawood Hilli, H. (1990). Aljawharat fi nazm tabsarat. Tehran: Publishing Institute affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, First edition. [In Arabic]
 - Ibn Edris, M. (1986). Al- Saraer al- Havi le Tahrir al- Fatavai. Qom: Islamic publishing office affiliated with Qom seminary community of teachers, Second Edition. [In Arabic]
-Ibn Fahd Hilli, A. (1986). Almuhadhib albarie fiy sharh almukhtasar alnaafiei. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Society of Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Ibn Hamza, M. (1987). Al-Wasila ela Neil Al-Fadilah. Qom: The Library of Ayatollah Marashi, First Edition. [In Arabic]
- Ibn Saeed,Y. (1984). Aljamie lilsharaye. Qom: Seyyed Al-Shuhada Al-Alamiya Foundation, First Edition. [In Arabic]
 - Khansari, S.A. (1984). Comprehensive Evidence in a Brief Explanation of Benefits. Second Edition. Qom: Ismaili Institute. [In Arabic]
-  Khoei, S. A. (n.d.). Mabani Tacmela Al-Menhaj. [In Arabic]
-  Khomeini, S. R. (2000). Tahrir al-Wasila. Institute for compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini’s works, First Edition [In Arabic]
-  Kulayni, M. (1986). Al-Kafi. Tehran: Islamic Books House, Fourth Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Mohaghegh Sabzevari, M. B. (2002). Kifayat al-Ahkam. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Society of Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, First edition. [In Arabic]
-  Moosavi Bojnourdi, S. M. & Rouhani, S. (2011). Characteristics of Juridical Justice in Viewpoint of Imam Ali (AS) With Special Reference to Imam Khomeini’s Viewpoints, Matin Research Journal, 14(54), 19-43. dor: 20.1001.1.24236462.1391.14.54.2.9
-  Muhaqqiq Hilli, J. (1987). Shari of Islam in the issues of halal and haram. Qom: Ismaili Institute, Second Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Muhaqqiq Hilli, J. (1997). Mukhtasar al-Nafi’ fi Imamiyyah jurisprudence. Qom: Religious Press Foundation, Sixth Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Muoghaddas Ardebili, A. (1982). The Collective of Interest and Evidence in Explaining the Guidance of the Minds (Majmae alfayidat w alburhan fi sharh ‘iirshad al’adhhan). Qom: Islamic publishing office affiliated with Qom seminary community of teachers, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Najafi, M. H. (1983).The jewel of theology in the explanation of Islamic law. Seventh edition, Beirut: Dar Al-Ahya Al-Tarath Al-Arabi. [In Arabic]
-  Naraghi, A. (1994). Documentary of the Shia in the rulings of the Sharia. Qom: Al-Al-Bait Institute, peace be upon him, First edition. [In Arabic]
-  Nazari Tavakoli, S. & Mohammad Ali Mirzaei, T. (2022). Conceptual Relationship between “Tabador” and “Insiraf” and Its Effect on Understanding Jurisprudential Statements Focusing on Imam Khomeini’s Viewpoints. Matin Research Journal, 24(95), 1-24. doi: 10.22034/matin.2022.194448.1466 dor: 20.1001.1.24236462.1401.24.95.1.0
-  Seimori, M. (1999). GHayat almaram fi sharh sharayie alaislam, Beirut: Dar Al-Hadi, First Edition.[In Arabic]
-  Shahid Aval, M. (1989). Al-Lomeh Al-Dameshghi fi feghh Al-Emamiyah. Beirut: Dar Al-Torath, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Shahid Aval, M. (1993). Ghaya Al-Morad. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Society of Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Shahid Aval, M. (1996). Al-dorus Al-Shariyah hi feghh Al-Emamiyah. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Society of Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, Secend Edition. [In Arabic]
-  ShahidThani, Z. (1989). Al-Rawdah al-Bahiyya in Sharh al-Lama’a al-Damashqiyya. Qom: Davari Bookstore, First edition. [In Arabic]
-  ShahidThani, Z. (1992).The Schools of Understanding to the Reformation of Islamic Laws. Qom: Institute of Islamic Knowledge, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  ShahidThani, Z. (2001).Hashiy Mothtasar Al-Nafe. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Society of Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Tabatabai, S.A. (1997). Riyadh Al-Masa’il. Qom: Al-Bayt Foundation, Peace be upon them, First Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Tabrizi, J. (n.d.). Osas Al-Ghaza. Qom: Moallem. [In Arabic]
-  Tusi, M. (1986). Al Khelaf. Qom: Islamic Publications Office affiliated with the Society of Teachers of the Seminary of Qom, Second Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Tusi, M. (1967). Al-Mabsut .Tehran: Al- Maktaba Al-Mortazaviya, Third Edition. [In Arabic]
-  Wahid Khorasani, H. (2007). Minhaj Al-Saleheen. Qom: Imam Baqir School, Fifth Edition. [In Arabic]
Matin Research Journal
Volume 25, Issue 99
Summer 2023
Pages 133-153