The Study of Shi’a Hadith and Theological thought in the Hadith School of Ahvaz During the Early Centuries of Islam
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Quran and Hadith sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic studies, University of Tehran
2 Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The present study examines the role and status of the Hadith school of Ahvaz during the first five centuries of Islam, focusing on its Hadith and theological thought. Given Ahvaz’s geographical and strategic location in southwestern Iran and its proximity to major scholarly centers in Iraq, particularly Kufa, this region became a significant hub for the transmission and expansion of Hadith sciences and Islamic teachings. Key topics discussed include the views and scholarly approaches of prominent narrators and scholars of Ahvaz in areas such as Hadith thought and theological debates, including the issues of determinism and free will, the knowledge of the Imam, and more. Additionally, the study explores the works of Hadith scholars from this region and their role in transmitting the heritage of the Imamiyyah to later centuries.
By analyzing early Islamic sources, including biographical, historical, and Hadith literature, this research seeks to answer the question of how the Hadith school of Ahvaz contributed to the history of Hadith and what its most significant Hadith and theological perspectives were. The findings indicate that the Hadith school of Ahvaz, not only in terms of the number of narrators and diversity of works but also due to its scholarly viewpoints on various theological discussions—particularly on issues such as infallibility, the knowledge of the Imam, and determinism versus free will—became a center for the exchange of Islamic thought. These intellectual and scholarly interactions, facilitated by Ahvaz’s unique geographical position, helped maintain the authenticity of Hadith while fostering effective connections with other Islamic centers, ensuring its lasting influence.
Keywords