The Process of Evolution of Informational (Akhbarid) and Doctrinal (Osulid) Schools with an Emphasis on Sheikh Bahai's Positioning

Jahanbakhsh Savagheb[1]

Abstract

Two religious approaches, doctrinal and informational, came to existence along with creation of Sunni schools of jurisprudence (second century A. H) and became highly important during the Safavid period due to the attempts made by Mohammad Amin Astarabadi in expanding informational approach and critiquing the tenets of doctrinal approaches. While, before this era, scientific and jurisprudential were mainly discussed, during this period, political aspects were added and each party attempted to reject, curse and accuse the other one. Famous scientists appeared who tried to reject their rival approach through their own reasoning and win their own school. Among these was Sheikh Bahai (953-1030 A. H) who was a prominent and influential scholar in religious, scientific and cultural fields. The main question is whether he subscribed to doctrinal approach or informational one? What were his activities? The present paper, through studying these two trends, attempts to reveal sheikh Bahai's school of jurisprudence