In a lecture...

In a lecture, Isa al-Rummani argued that Ghadir Khumm relied on transmitted tradition ( riwayah ) while the Cave was based on reasoned knowledge ( dirayah ). Al-Mufid later challenged this by questioning the repentance of Aisha, Talha, and Zubayr after rebelling against Imam Ali, arguing their repentance was based on riwayah , whereas their rebellion was rooted in dirayah . Impressed, al-Rummani referred al-Mufid to al-Basri with a note calling him “al-Mufid” (“the Instructor”) [8] .

Alternatively, Ibn Shahr Ashub attributes the title to the twelfth Shia Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi [9] . His Scholarly Contributions Shaykh Mufid played a central role in the intellectual development of Twelver Shia Islam . Building upon the works of earlier scholars like Shaykh al-Saduq, he sought to harmonize traditional Shia doctrines with the rational methodologies prevalent in his time.

He was instrumental in establishing a systematic framework for Shia theology, addressing complex issues such as divine justice, Imamate, and free will versus predestination. His arguments, grounded in both reason and scriptural evidence, elevated the intellectual rigor of Shia kalam (theology) and served as a foundation for subsequent generations of scholars. Shaykh Mufid’s literary contributions are vast, with many of his works still studied today.

According to al-Najashi in his “al-Fihrist” , he mentioned 175 books and treatises [10] attributed to al-Shaykh al-Mufid. Some of the most significant writings include: Al-Irshad fi ma’rifat hujaj Allah ‘ala l-‘ibad [11] , Kitab al-Muqni‘ah, Awa’il al-maqalat fi l-madhahib wa l-mukhtarat, Al-Jamal wa l-nusra li-Sayyid al-‘Itra fi harb Basra, Al-Amali etc. It is pertinent to mention that Shaykh Mufid’s approach to theology (Kalam) was characterized by its rational rigor and systematic structure.

He addressed theological controversies of his time, such as the nature of divine attributes, the justice of God, and the role of human free will. His arguments against the Mu‘tazilites and Ash‘arites demonstrated his ability to engage with diverse intellectual traditions while firmly upholding Shia beliefs [12] . One of his key theological contributions was his articulation of the concept of Imamate.

Shaykh Mufid emphasized that the Imamate is a rational necessity for guiding humanity and safeguarding divine law, positioning it as a central pillar of Shia theology. In the realm of jurisprudence, Shaykh Mufid’s innovations were groundbreaking.