The Position of Author’s Approach in the Evaluation of Propositions of Narrative Historiography; Case study of the Function of Hadith-Based and Theological Approach of Sheikh e-Saduq regarding the Successorship narrations of Imam Reza (PBUH)

Abstract

Many of the sources related to the life history of infallible Imams are set in the collection of narrative historiography with their own unique characteristics. However, the question related to the different approaches of the authors on this type of historiography in order to evaluate the historical propositions, has been less reflected. The present writing answers this question through the case study of hadith-based and theological approach of Sheikh e-Saduq related to successorship of Imam Reza (PBUH) to test the hypothesis of inevitability of consideration of two hadith-based and theological approaches in the direction of the evaluation of historical propositions of collection of narrative historiography and based on findings, it is emphasized on this approach that paying a serious attention to the insight and method of the authors and narrators before taking advantage of the narrative historiographical sources is deemed to be an essential matter.

Keywords

• narrative historiography of twelvers
• oyun al-akhbar al-reza
• sheikh e- saduq
• hadith-based approach
• theological approach