Tanqih al-usul

Tanqih al-usul (Arabic: تنقیح الأصول) contains the collection of lecture transcripts (taqrirat) of a complete course on the principles of jurisprudence taught by Imam Khomeini in the Islamic Seminary of Qom, written in Arabic by Husayn Taqawi Ishtahardi.

Importance of the Book

The book Tanqih al-usul is a transcript of a complete course of Imam Khomeini's lectures on the science of the principles of jurisprudence, which was taught during his second period of teaching. This book is among the most complete transcripts of his lectures, written in a fluent and precise style. In this book, seminary students become acquainted with Imam Khomeini's principles-related opinions, as well as the viewpoints of other scholars, documented from the books Kifayat al-usul, Nihayat al-usul, Maqalat al-usul, and Bada'i' al-afkar.

Author (Transcriber)

Husayn Taqawi Ishtahardi was a cleric and one of the students of Imam Khomeini's advanced lectures (dars al-kharij) on jurisprudence and principles. From 1331 Sh, he attended the second period of Imam Khomeini's advanced lectures on principles at the Salmasi Mosque and benefited from those lectures until 1341 Sh. He transcribed those lectures in four volumes, which have been published under the title Tanqih al-usul by the Institute for Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works. Taqawi Ishtahardi considered his ten-year attendance in Imam Khomeini's lectures to be his greatest Divine Blessing.

Structure

In the book Tanqih al-usul, the presentation of principles-related topics by Imam Khomeini is put forward in a methodical manner. On the other hand, in the examination of the views of Shi'i jurists, the opinions of Sheikh Ansari, Akhund Khorasani, and Mirza al-Na'ini have been given more attention. At the end of each volume of the book, a detailed index of the topics discussed in the book is provided. The publisher's introduction is at the beginning of the first volume.

Content Report

This book consists of four volumes, the contents of which are sequentially categorized in the table of contents into Amr (12 amr), Matlab (six matlab), and the chapters beneath them:

Volume 1: Introductory topics of the principles of jurisprudence, including an introduction and 12 amrs, such as the definition of the science of principles and its necessity, the distinction between sciences, and the position of the science of principles within the collection of Islamic sciences, the discussion of "coining" (wad') and the rules of the usage of words, the subject matter of the science of principles, the preliminaries of derivation (istinbat), etc.;

Volume 2: Continuation of the discussions on words (alfaz), including the complementary section of the first matlab on commands (awamir), and four other matlabs on the subject of prohibitions (nawahi), the explicit meaning (mantuq) and implied meaning (mafhum), the general and the specific ('am wa khass), and the absolute and the limited (mutlaq wa muqayyad);

Volume 3: Includes the sixth matlab, namely the valid shari'a and rational indications (amarat), which comprises three chapters on the subjects of certainty (qat'), doubt (zann), exemption (bara'at), and caution (ishtighal) from the practical principles (al-usul al-'amaliyya);

Volume 4: Encompasses the topics of continuity (istishab), contradiction and variance of evidences, and finally Ijtihad and Taqlid.

The fourth volume of the book has received more attention. The topics and issues raised in this volume do not entirely correspond with the traditional discussions on this matter, and Imam Khomeini, by virtue of his attention to politics and governance, dedicated a chapter to the functions and authorities of the Wali al-Faqih and his relationship with other mujtahids, presenting the political aspects of the Wilayat al-Faqih in a cohesive link with the jurisprudential aspects of ijtihad and Marja'iyya.

Publication Status

The book Tanqih al-usul was published in Arabic for the first time and gradually in the year 1376 Sh through the efforts of the Institute for Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works in four volumes in royal octavo size. Also, the institute for the publication of works published this book in the years 1380 Sh and 1385 Sh. The circulation of the book in the first edition was 3000 copies, and in the 1385 Sh edition, it was 2000 copies. Although the publisher of all these editions is the Institute for the Publication of Imam Khomeini's Works, in the copyright page of the 1375 Sh and 1380 Sh prints, both are mentioned as the first edition, and the year 1385 Sh is the second edition. The first volume of the book is 320 pages, the second volume is 466 pages, the third volume is 658 pages, and the fourth volume is 724 pages.