A New Reading of Prospective Istishab

Establishing the status of phenomena in the future has far-reaching IMPLICATIONS in the field of Islamic jurisprudence, and certitude and certainty, as the only way to achieve it, lacks a disciplined mechanism and is often unattainable. Prospective Istishab (the principle of continuity of the previous state) is an issue resulted from this need which fulfills its mission in ascertaining the future status according to the current status of phenomena. Relying on documentary method and simultaneous interaction with revelatory, rational and customary evidence pave the way for research on prospective Istishab and the only proof of the validity of this principle is the absoluteness of “inadmissibility of break of certainty by doubt”. The important issue in case of authority is that if there is difference between the proofs of prospective Istishab and present Istishab, believing in the authority of a general institution and that both Istishabs are its examples is wrong. The most frequent function cited for this Istishab is the topic of “admissibility of initiation (Bidar)”. In addition, as examples of the consequences of this Istishab, we can mention “ascertaining  the justice”, “absence of an obligation for the duty-bound to learn the precepts with which he is not usually concerned (uncommon percepts )”, “absence of an immediate obligation to embark on fulfilling the duties with extended time-limit”  and many other cases.