Examining and Criticizing the Process of Appointing Imāms in the Perspective of Ḳāḍī ʿAḍud ul-Dīn ʾĪdjī and Saʿd ul-Dīn Taftāzānī

The lofty position of Imamate, along with the difference in the view of the Muslim thinkers about it, created an incentive for the writer “to examine and criticize the process of appointing an Imāms in the view of Ḳāḍī ʿAḍud ul-Dīn al-ʾĪdjī and Saʿd ulDīn Taftāzānī” in the present article. These two theologians have proposed four ways for selecting an Imām, some of which are common and some of which are different. Those four ways consist in: Naṣṣ (literal evidence from the Prophet or the previous Imām), allegiance of the Ahl ul-Ḥalli val-ʿAḳd (people that are qualified for appointing and selecting an Imām), council and dominance. The mentioned methods are encountered by some problems. The existence of Naṣṣ for the Imām is disputed by Sunni scholars. In the same way, the allegiance cited by them is also rejected due to the non-fulfillment of the consensus of the Ahl ul-Ḥalli val-ʿAḳd regarding the first three caliphs. Appointing the successor by the first two caliphs or through the council is also against the way of the Prophet of Islam (SAWA). As the method of conquering and dominance is against the Qurʾān, the Sunnah, and intellect