A Comparative Study of Akhund Khorasani and Imam Khomeini’s Views on Talab (Quest) and Iradah (Determination)

Abstract

The union or disunion of Talab (Quest) and Iradah (Determination) is one of the disputed issues among the scholars of Islamic jurisprudence. The difference of opinion stems from Kalam or speculative theology and the difference of opinion in attributing the quality of speaking to the Almighty God. The Asha’irah believe in speaking of God through the language of Quran, thus argue that Talab is different from Iradah. Imamiya jurists fall in two groups concerning the issue. One group believe in union of the Talab and Iradah due to the juxtaposition of the two and the belief in Kalam Nafsi (the concept that Allah's words subsist within Himself) like in Quran, while the second group reject juxtaposition of the two and maintain that it is possible to believe in disunion of the two while failing to accept Kalam Nafsi or God’s speaking through the language of Quran. Both believe in union of Talab and Iradah, but Akhund Khorasani and Imam Khomeini have adopted a different approach toward the issue. This paper has carried out a comparative study of Akhund Khorasani’s views as the first Usuli (majority Shia) scholar introducing the subject and Imam Khomeini’s views as a highly innovative personality in contemporary jurisprudential principles in order to clarify the differences between the two perspectives.

Keywords

• order
• talab (quest)
• iradah (determination)
• union
• distinction
• kalam nafsi