Abstract

Explanation of notion of the authoritative and surveying its essentials is the most significant problem in the science of Usul al-Fiqh, which is, in turn, rooted in hadiths as well as its own particular theological doctrines. The most prominent Usuli opinions on the problem of authority are presented chiefly on the basis of essential authority of the certitude and conventional authority of authorized conjectural proofs, along with the principle of non-authority. Explaining traditional and theological roots of authority and expounding deficiencies of prominent opinions, the present essay attempts to present more acceptable principles in this connection.
It seems that the unified meaning of “authority” in Usuli discussions is “capability of argumentation on the basis of knowledge produced by existence of authorized conjectural proofs, conditional upon not being rejected by the divine lawgiver.” In this structure, authority of authorized conjectural proofs and ways made by the judgment of the wise is treated as the principle and incontrovertible-making and excuse-making of authorized conjectural proofs are treated as being results of existence of spirit of responsibility or fault in trusting authorized conjectural proofs as preliminaries of producing of certitude or confidence. In addition to being more demonstrative compared to the prevailing views, this opinion leads to less contro versial consequences and is more compatible with hadiths on the authority.

Keywords

• certitude
• authority of authorized conjectural proofs
• the conduct of the wise
• conjecture