A Comparative Analysis of Special Deputyship and the Theory ‎of the Fourth Pillar in the Thought of Imamiyya and ‎Shaykhiyya

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 assistant professor Graduate of the Qom Seminary and Faculty Member, Stream Studies Group, Research Institute of Islamic Sciences and Culture, Qom, Iran.

2 Graduate of Level 3, Mashhad Seminary, Mashhad, Iran

10.22081/jm.2025.68130.1108

Abstract

Shaykhiyya Kermaniya is considered one of the deviant sects of the present era, which, by resorting to the concept of special deputyship, seeks to expand its meaning. This movement, due to a misunderstanding of the concept of deputyship, has followed a path by introducing terms such as the Fourth Pillar and the Unique Speaker, considering itself the center of both worldly and otherworldly sciences, the criterion of right and wrong, and possessing unattainable ranks. The evolution of the meaning of agency into deputyship and the appropriation of the meaning of deputyship with the Fourth Pillar is a major effort of the Shaykhis to legitimize their viewpoint by inventing this theory, which necessitates the gradual elimination of the system of jurisprudence and marja'iyyah (highest religious authority). This research aims to clarify the issue of special deputyship and its conceptual evolution from the meaning of agency, and seeks to show that the Shaykhis, by misusing and misunderstanding the issue of special deputyship, have presented it in the form of the Fourth Pillar. Re-examining the Shaykhis' thoughts regarding this semantic evolution and their misuse of the concept of special deputyship highlights the necessity of research in this area. The present paper, using library resources with a descriptive-analytical approach, and relying on primary sources of the Kermani Shaykhiyya sect, clarifies the conceptual evolution and utilization of this sect. The result shows that the Shaykhis misused the transformation of the meaning of agency and its application to special deputyship in an effort to legitimize their claims.

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Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 11 February 2025
  • Revise Date: 05 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 February 2025

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